Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provided details on Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in response to a parliamentary question. As of August 11, 2025, 559 CAAQMS have been installed across 292 cities in India, with 54 located in 18 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) manage air quality monitoring, with CPCB providing population-based criteria for station establishment.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **CAAQMS Deployment:**
* 559 CAAQMS are operational across 292 cities in India.
* Uttar Pradesh has 54 CAAQMS installed in 18 districts.
* 57 districts in Uttar Pradesh lack operational CAAQMS.
* **Funding under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):**
* A total of ₹88.64 crore has been utilized under NCAP for setting up CAAQMS.
* Year-wise fund utilization:
* 2019-20: ₹2.74 crore (3 CAAQMS)
* 2020-21: ₹13.91 crore (18 CAAQMS)
* 2021-22: ₹38.81 crore (35 CAAQMS)
* 2022-23: ₹21.7 crore (27 CAAQMS)
* 2023-24: ₹11.48 crore (18 CAAQMS)
* **Criteria for CAAQMS Installation (Based on Population):**
* 1,00,000 - 5,00,000: Minimum 4 manual stations, proposed 2 CAAQMS
* 5,00,000 - 10,00,000: Minimum 6 manual stations, proposed 2 CAAQMS
* 10,00,000 - 50,00,000: Minimum 8 manual stations, proposed 2 CAAQMS
* 50,00,000+: Minimum 16 manual stations, proposed 4 CAAQMS
* **Responsibilities:**
* CPCB and SPCBs are responsible for ambient air quality monitoring.
* SPCBs are mandated under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to collect air quality data.
Impact Analysis:
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB):
Impact: Responsible for establishing and maintaining CAAQMS and monitoring ambient air quality.
Action Required: Ensure compliance with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, collect and analyze air quality data, and adhere to the population-based criteria for establishing monitoring stations.
Uttar Pradesh State Government:
Impact: Needs to address the lack of CAAQMS in 57 districts.
Action Required: Plan for the installation of CAAQMS in unserved districts, potentially prioritizing those with urban or industrial clusters, and coordinate with CPCB for funding and technical support.
Citizens in Uttar Pradesh:
Impact: Access to information on air quality varies depending on their district.
Action Required: Advocate for improved air quality monitoring in districts without CAAQMS and utilize available air quality data to inform personal decisions and community action.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
Impact: Oversees the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and addresses queries related to air quality monitoring.
Action Required: Continue to allocate funds for the establishment and maintenance of CAAQMS and refine criteria for station placement to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Key Entities Referenced
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations CAAQMS: A network of stations used to monitor ambient air quality, with 559 stations installed across 292 cities in India.
National Clean Air Programme NCAP: A program initiative to improve air quality in India, under which funds are allocated for setting up and maintaining CAAQMS.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where 54 CAAQMS have been installed across 18 districts.
Central Pollution Control Board CPCB: A central government organization responsible for ambient air quality monitoring in India.
State Pollution Control Boards SPCB: State-level organizations responsible for ambient air quality monitoring in their respective states.
Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981: An act mandating State Pollution Control Boards to collect ambient air quality data.
Agra, Uttar Pradesh: A district in Uttar Pradesh with 6 operational CAAQMS.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: A district in Uttar Pradesh with 7 operational CAAQMS.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3547
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations
3547: MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS)
sanctioned, installed and made operational along with stations pending for installation,
State/UT-wise and district-wise in Uttar Pradesh;
(b) the total funds sanctioned, released and utilised under the National Clean Air
Programme (NCAP) for setting up and maintaining the said stations since its inception,
year-wise;
(c) the criteria adopted by the Government for selecting cities and districts for installation
of CAAQMS:
(d) the number of districts with urban or industrial clusters have no operational CAAQMS,
and
(e) whether the Government has identified more districts for future coverage, if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e): Ambient air quality monitoring is carried out by Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). CPCB issued criteria for establishing
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring stations based on population. The said criteria is enclosed at
Annexure I.
A total of 559 number of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) have
been installed and made operational across 292 cities across the country. State-wise details of
Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations operational in the country are enclosed at
Annexure II. Year-wise details of funds utilized under NCAP for setting up of CAAQMS are
provided at Annexure III.
Concerned State Pollution Control Boards have been mandated under the Air (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to collect ambient air quality data.
In Uttar Pradesh State, 54 number of CAAQMS have been installed in 18 Districts and made
operational. Details of District-wise Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations
operational in Uttar Pradesh State is enclosed at Annexure IV. 57 districts of Uttar Pradesh do not
have operational CAAQMS.
****Annexure I
Criteria for designing the ambient air quality monitoring network
Population Minimum no of
Minimum no. of manual stations Total
(Census 2011) proposed CAAQMS
Background (1 number)
1,00,000- < 5,00,000 Residential/ Commercial (2 Residential (1 number) 4
numbers)
Residential (1 number)
Background (1 number)
Traffic dominant area (1
5,00,000- <10,00,000 Residential/Commercial (2 6
number)
numbers)
Commercial (1 number)
Residential (2 numbers)
Background (1 number) Traffic dominant area (1
10,00,000- <50,00,000 Residential/ Commercial (2 number) 8
numbers) Commercial (1 number)
Industrial area (1 number)
Background in upwind direction
Residential (4 numbers)
(1 number)
Traffic dominant area (3
Background in down wind
≥50,00,000 numbers) 16
direction (1 number)
Commercial (3 numbers)
Residential/ Commercial (2
Industrial area (2 numbers)
numbers)Annexure II
State-wise details of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations operational in
the country
Sl. No. States / UTs No. of CAAQMS
1. Andaman & Nicobar (UT) 1
2. Andhra Pradesh 13
3. Arunachal Pradesh 1
4. Assam 9
5. Bihar 35
6. Chandigarh (UT) 3
7. Chhattisgarh 14
8. Delhi (UT) 39
9. Gujarat 17
10. Haryana 31
11. Himachal Pradesh 1
12. Jammu & Kashmir (UT) 1
13. Jharkhand 4
14. Karnataka 42
15. Kerala 9
16. Madhya Pradesh 29
17. Maharashtra 97
18. Manipur 2
19. Meghalaya 2
20. Mizoram 1
21. Nagaland 1
22. Odisha 19
23. Pondicherry (UT) 1
24. Punjab 8
25. Rajasthan 46
26. Sikkim 1
27. Tamilnadu 37
28. Telangana 14
29. Tripura 2
30. Uttar Pradesh 54
31. Uttarakhand 3
32. West Bengal 22
Total stations: 559Annexure III
Year-wise details of funds utilized under NCAP for setting up of CAAQMS across the
country
Financial Fund utilized
No. of CAAQMS
Year (Rs. in crore)
2019-20 3 2.74
2020-21 18 13.91
2021-22 35 38.81
2022-23 27 21.7
2023-24 18 11.48
Total 101 88.64Annexure IV
District-wise details of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations operational in
Uttar Pradesh State
S. No. District No. of CAAQMS
1. Agra 6
2. Prayagraj 3
3. Baghpat 1
4. Bareilly 2
5. Bulandshahr 2
6. Firozabad 2
7. Ghaziabad 4
8. Gorakhpur 1
9. Gautam Buddha Nagar 6
10. Hapur 1
11. Jhansi 1
12. Kanpur 3
13. Lucknow 7
14. Meerut 3
15. Moradabad 6
16. Muzaffarnagar 1
17. Varanasi 4
18. Mathura 1
Total 54