**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the steps taken and proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to address air pollution in India. It addresses concerns raised about the country's progress in reducing PM2.5 levels compared to other nations. The response details various initiatives including the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), emission standards, and regulations for polluting industries. A deadline of 31.12.2026 is mentioned for the induction of BS-VI emission standard two-wheelers in fleets.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):**
* Launched in 2019 to address air pollution in 130 non-attainment and million-plus cities/urban agglomerations.
* City-specific and state-level action plans have been prepared, targeting sources like dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, and industrial pollution.
* Rs. 13,852.22 crore provided as performance-based incentives to 130 cities under NCAP.
* 103 cities showed reduction in PM10 concentration in 2024-25, with 64 cities achieving more than 20% reduction and 25 achieving more than 40%.
* 40 cities have shown reduction in PM2.5 levels in 2024 and 56 cities have met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5.
* **Regulatory Framework and Enforcement:**
* The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water Act, 1974, empower State Pollution Control Boards to issue directions for closure, prohibition, or regulation of polluting activities.
* Penalties for contravention of environmental laws range from ten to fifteen lakh rupees.
* CPCB has directed 17 categories of high pollution potential industries to install Online Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
* Automatic SMS alerts are generated for industries exceeding environmental norms.
* 252 out of 412 units inspected under OCEMS-based inspections were found non-complying with environmental norms. Actions taken include closure directions, show cause notices, and directives for further action.
* **Specific Measures for Delhi-NCR:**
* Regular review meetings are held to monitor air pollution control measures.
* The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued 95 Statutory Directions.
* Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented during peak winter months.
* 5340 CNG/e-buses have been deployed for public transport in Delhi.
* Directions issued by CAQM include shifting public transport buses to BS-VI diesel/CNG/EV.
* Entry of Commercial goods vehicles with non BS-VI has been prohibited from 01.11.2025.
* Construction projects mandated to register on SPCB/DPCC portals and implement pollution control measures.
* 70 Dust Control and Management Cells set up by road owning agencies, with augmented infrastructure for dust control.
* Rs. 66,718.47 Crore has been released for Metro Rail/RRTS projects in Delhi and NCR region from FY 2014-15 and onwards.
* **Other Initiatives:**
* Emission standards have been notified for more than 80 industries.
* Leapfrogging to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms was implemented from 1st April 2020.
* Waste management rules are in place for various types of waste.
* Market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations introduced.
* 12 identified Single-Use Plastics (SUP) were banned from 1st July, 2022.
* Mandate for utilization of minimum 5% of crop residue along with coal in thermal power plants in NCR and adjoining areas.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for directing high pollution industries to install OCEMS.
* **Action Required:** Monitor data from OCEMS, issue alerts for violations, and ensure corrective measures.
* **State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)**
* **Impact:** Empowered to issue directions for closure, prohibition, or regulation of polluting activities.
* **Action Required:** Implement the provisions of the Air and Water Acts, take action against non-compliant industries, and ensure adherence to environmental norms.
* **Industries**
* **Impact:** Subject to stricter emission standards, OCEMS installation, and potential penalties for non-compliance.
* **Action Required:** Install and maintain OCEMS, adhere to emission standards, and take corrective measures in response to alerts.
* **Motor Vehicle Aggregators, Delivery Service Providers, and E-Commerce Entities**
* **Impact:** Restrictions on inducting conventional ICE vehicles into their fleets.
* **Action Required:** Comply with Direction No. 94, induct BS-VI emission standard two-wheelers, and shift to cleaner mobility options.
* **Construction Companies**
* **Impact:** Mandated to register construction projects and implement pollution control measures.
* **Action Required:** Register projects on SPCB/DPCC portals, implement pollution control measures, and conduct self-audits.
* **Citizens/Public**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved air quality due to reduced pollution levels.
* **Action Required:** Support and participate in initiatives aimed at reducing air pollution.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy launched in 2019 to address air pollution in 130 non-attainment and million plus cities/urban agglomeration.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: An Act related to prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: An Act that provides for the protection and improvement of the environment and for matters connected therewith.
Delhi-NCR: A region facing severe air pollution, where specific measures are being taken to control it.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1438
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Check on Pollution
1438. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:
SHRI KHALILUR RAHAMAN:
COM. SELVARAJ V:
SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:
SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that over the last decade since 2011, China has sharply reduced urban PM2.5
levels by 32 per cent and globally by about 10 per cent whereas India's average has barely
changed by only 0.4 percent during this period;
(b) whether it is also a fact that in many of the cities in the country like Pune, Surat, Hyderabad etc.
the PM2.5 level has stagnated or worsened during this period;
(c) the current levels of air pollution (PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, SO₂) in major cities and industrial hubs
across the country, as per the latest monitoring data;
(d) the reasons why air pollution levels continue to remain above the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards in several cities despite existing regulations;
(e) the details of the provisions of penalty under the law for polluting industries, the total number
of industries and vehicles penalized for violating emission norms during in the last three years,
State/UT-wise; and
(f) the steps taken or proposed by the Ministry to reduce air pollution, particularly in Delhi-NCR,
Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and other urban areas facing severe pollution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (f): Pollution levels across countries are not directly comparable due to differences in
geographical settings, weather conditions, and national circumstances. Air pollution is a collective
result of multiple factors including geographical factors, high level of anthropogenic activities in
the high-density populated areas, arising from various sectors viz. Vehicular Pollution, Industrial
Pollution, Dust from Construction and Demolition Project activities, Road and Open Areas Dust,
Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste burning, Fires in Landfills, air pollution from dispersed
sources, etc.
Government of India has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 as a long-
term, time-bound, national-level strategy to address air pollution in 130 non-attainment and millionplus cities/urban agglomeration in 24 States/UTs which includes 06 Cities of Delhi NCR, Mumbai,
Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Surat, Hyderabad.
City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared by all 130 cities under NCAP to
implement air quality improvement measures in respective cities. These plans target air pollution
sources like soil & road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, Construction & Demolition
activities and industrial pollution. State level Clean Air Action Plans prepared by States/UTs
address both PM10 and PM2.5 through coordinated approach by implementing various policy and
enforcement measures.
Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and 6 cities in Delhi-NCR have been
included under NCAP and City Clean Air Action plans have been prepared by respective cities.
An amount of Rs. 13,852.22 crore has been provided to 130 cities as performance-based incentive
under NCAP. Details of critical gap funding provided to Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Mumbai,
Bangalore, Chennai and 6 cities in Delhi-NCR are enclosed at Annexure I.
The focused and coordinated actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with
103 cities showing reduction in PM10 concentration in 2024-25 with respect to 2017-18, 64 cities
have shown reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% with respect to base year 2017-18 and 25
of these cities have achieved a reduction of more than 40%. A total of 22 Cities have met National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 µg/m3.
Further, out of the 130 cities under NCAP, 40 cities have shown reduction in PM₂.₅ levels in 2024
as compared to 2019 and 56 cities have met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
for PM₂.₅ (annual standard: 40 µg/m³) in 2024 which include Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru,
Hyderabad, Pune and Surat. PM and PM levels of major cities for the year 2024 are enclosed
10 2.5
at Annexure II.
Further, Section 31 A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Section 33 A
of the Water Act, 1974 provide powers to State Pollution Control Boards to issue directions to any
person or authority for performing its functions, which include directions for closure, prohibition
or regulation of any industry, operation or process, stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity,
water and any other service.
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air Act, 1981 and the Water Act 1974 provide for
imposing a penalty of not less than ten lakh rupees and which may extend up to fifteen lakh rupees
for contravention of provisions of the respective Acts, rules, orders and directions issued under
respective Act.
Under the provisions of Chapter VI of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and
Chapter III of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the penalties are prescribed for polluting
industries.
CPCB has directed all 17 categories of high pollution potential industries and common waste
treatment facilities to install Online Continuous Effluent/ Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS)
for strengthening monitoring mechanism and effective compliance through self-regulatory
mechanism and constant vigil on pollution levels. Real-time values of environmental pollutants of
trade effluent and emissions generated through OCEMS are transmitted online to CPCB and
concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central software processes the data and in case of value ofpollutant parameter exceeds prescribed environmental norms, an automatic SMS alert is generated
and sent to industrial unit, SPCB and CPCB, so that corrective measures can be taken by the
industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by concerned SPCB/PCC/CPCB.
About, 7000 industries have installed and connected OCEMS with CPCB server. During last three
years i.e. 2023-25, a total of 412 units were inspected under OCEMS-based inspections. Out of
these 412 units, 252 units were found non-complying with environmental norms, against which
actions as deemed fit based on the gravity of violation and provisions of the environmental laws
has been taken. The details of the same is as follows:
i. Closure directions u/s 5 of EPA, 1986: 6,
ii. Show Cause Notices/directions u/s 5 of EPA, 1986: 143,
iii. Directions to SPCBs/PCCs u/s 18(1)(b) of the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 for
further action: 70
iv. Directives in the form of letter to unit: 33
Steps taken to reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other major cities are enclosed as Annexure
III.
***Annexure I
Funds Provided to Major Cities including cities part of Delhi-NCR (during FY 2019-20 till
FY 2025-26)
(Amount in ₹ crore)
S. No. State City Fund Released
1 Delhi Delhi 81.36
2 Haryana Faridabad 107.14
3 Rajasthan Alwar 25.15
4 Noida 55.70
5 Uttar Pradesh Ghaziabad 257.89
6 Meerut 187.99
7 Tamilnadu Chennai 582.65
8 Mumbai 950.14
Maharashtra
9 Pune 271.30
10 Gujarat Surat 328.60
11 Telangana Hyderabad 727.18
12 Karnataka Bengaluru 541.10
Total 4116.20Annexure II
PM and PM 2.5 Values for the Major Cities including cities part of Delhi-NCR for the
10
year 2024
Annual Average Concentration
Sl. No Name of UA/City State PM10 PM2.5
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
1. Pune Maharashtra 92 37
2. Surat Gujarat 83 34
3. Hyderabad Telangana 78 30
4. Bengaluru UA Karnataka 70 33
5. Chennai UA Tamil Nadu 60 27
6. Delhi UA NCT of Delhi 220 111
Greater Mumbai
7. Maharashtra 87 34
UA
8. Hyderabad UA Telangana 78 30
9. Kolkata UA West Bengal 96 48Annexure III
Steps taken by the Government for controlling air pollution
1. Emission standards for more than 80 industries have been notified
2. Leapfrogging to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emissions norms from 1st April 2020
3. Vehicle Scrapping Policy, Rules for Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities and Automated
Testing Stations-MoRTH
4. Waste management rules for solid waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, e-waste, battery waste,
biomedical waste, fly ash from TPPs
5. Market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations introduced for waste
categories, viz. plastic packaging, e-waste, battery waste, waste tyres, used oil, end-of-life
vehicles, construction & demolition waste and scrap of non-ferrous metal
6. 12 identified Single-Use Plastics (SUP) having high littering potential and low utility were
banned from 1st July, 2022
7. Mandate for utilization of minimum 5% of crop residue along with coal (pellets/briquettes) in
thermal power plants in NCR and adjoining areas.
8. Measures undertaken to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR
(i) Regular review meetings have been held on 08.08.2025, 16.09.2025, 10.10.2025
11.11.2025, 26.11.2025, 03.12.2025, 15.12.2025, 16.12.2025, 17.12.2025, 19.12.2025,
06.01.2026, 12.01.2026, 20.01.2026 and 02.02.2026 under the chairmanship of the
Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to review the action plans
and various air pollution control measures implemented by State Governments, local
bodies and implement agencies in Delhi-NCR and to deliberate upon the undertaking of
air pollution abatement measures and strategies for further strengthening air quality
management across the region.
(ii) Minister level Inter-Ministerial meeting was held on 07.10.2025 under the Co-
chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and
Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) on the issues of
management of Crop Residue Burning.
(iii) Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) established under the Commission for
Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for better coordination,
research, identification and resolution of problems of air pollution in Delhi- NCR and
adjoining areas.
(iv) The Commission has so far issued 95 Statutory Directions to specifically guide and direct
various actions towards abatement of air pollution in the region. A monitoring mechanism
to oversee the implementation of these directions has been put in place.
(v) To tackle air pollution in emergencies, Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-
NCR has been prepared, which provides set of emergency response actions, depending on
severity of air pollution levels, and implemented by identified agencies for minimizing air
pollution, a situation that generally persists in the Delhi-NCR during the peak winter
months.
(vi) 5340 CNG/e-buses have been deployed for public transport in Delhi including 3535 e-
buses. 2800 E-Buses and 1100 E-trucks have been allocated for Delhi under PM E-DRIVE
scheme of Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).
(vii) A total of 450 electric buses has been sanctioned for participating cities (Faridabad,
Gurugram, Rohtak, Panipat, Karnal & Alwar) of NCR region. The total Central Assistance
approved, so far, to NCR region for Behind-the-meter (BTM) power and civil depot
infrastructure is ₹35.77 crore under the scheme. By exclusively providing electric buses, the
scheme helps in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable mobility. Further, amount ofRs. 66,718.47 Crore has been released for Metro Rail/RRTS projects in Delhi and NCR
region from FY 2014-15 and onwards.
(viii) All the industries in NCR have been shifted to approved fuels. Out of 240 industrial areas
in Delhi-NCR, 224 industrial areas have been provided with PNG connectivity, 6 are
provided through cascade system. Directions have been issued for mandating stringent
emission norms for industries in NCR.
(ix) To fast-track cleaner mobility, Direction No. 94 dated 03.06.2025, as amended on 23.12.2025
issued by CAQM mandated that Motor Vehicle Aggregators, Delivery Service Providers and
E-Commerce Entities shall not induct any conventional ICE vehicles running purely on
diesel or petrol into their existing fleets of four-wheeler LCVs, four-wheeler LGVs (N1
category up to 3.5 tonnes) and two-wheelers from 01.01.2026 onwards. However, induction
of BS-VI emission standard two-wheelers has been permitted in existing fleets up to
31.12.2026.
(x) Directions were issued by CAQM to shift public transport buses coming from neighbouring
States to BS-VI diesel/CNG/EV. From 01.11.2026, only CNG/EV/BS-VI diesel buses,
including tourist buses, have been permitted to enter Delhi.
(xi) Entry of Commercial goods vehicles with non BS-VI Low Goods, Medium Goods and High
Goods Vehicles into Delhi has been prohibited from 01.11.2025, with limited, time-bound
relaxation for BS-IV vehicles up to 31.10.2026.
(xii) To address air pollution from construction and demolition activities, construction projects
having built up area above 500 square meters have been mandated to register on
SPCB/DPCC portals, with provisions for video fencing, remote access, standardized
checklists, fortnightly self-audits and installation of PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ monitors.
(xiii) 70 Dust Control and Management Cells have been set up by road owning agencies across
Delhi-NCR, with regular reviews by the CAQM. States and GNCTD have augmented
infrastructure for dust control, including mechanized road sweeping machines, water
sprinklers and anti-smog guns.
***