**Executive Summary**
This report, answering Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2477 on February 13th, 2026, addresses the health impacts of air pollution in India. It references an ICMR study indicating high levels of air pollution exposure and outlines the Government's corrective steps, including the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The National Action Plan on Air Pollution and Health was developed in year 2021.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Air Pollution Statistics (ICMR Study):**
* 77% of India's population is exposed to ambient air pollution above safe limits.
* 26% of premature deaths/disease burden in India are linked to air pollution.
* The ICMR study referenced is 'The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectancy across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017'
* India accounted for 26.2% of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to air pollution in 2017.
* 76.8% of the population was exposed to annual population-weighted mean Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 greater than 40 µg/m³.
* Delhi had the highest annual population-weighted mean PM2.5 in 2017, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.
* **National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):**
* Launched in 2019 by MoEF&CC to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and Million-Plus Cities across 24 States/UTs.
* Employs a comprehensive, integrated, and collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders.
* Emphasizes source-specific mitigation measures via city, state, and national-level Clean Air Action Plans.
* Targets pollution sources like soil & road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, construction, and industrial pollution.
* Mobilises resources through convergence of various government schemes (Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, etc.).
* Programme implementation is tracked through the PRANA portal.
* Swachh Vayu Survekshan initiative annually ranks 130 cities based on air quality improvement measures.
* **Other Government Initiatives:**
* Leapfrogged to BS-VI fuel and vehicle norms (effective April 1, 2020).
* Promotes e-mobility and alternate fuels.
* Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (VVMP) for vehicle scrapping.
* Implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).
* **Delhi-NCR Air Quality Management:**
* Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) established for coordination, research, and resolution of air pollution issues.
* Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) provides emergency response actions based on air pollution levels.
* Centralised air quality portal and mobile app-SAMEER provide real-time data and grievance redressal.
* **National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH):**
* Developed a structured mechanism to address health concerns due to air pollution.
* National Action Plan on Air Pollution and Health was developed in 2021.
* State Action Plans on Air Pollution and Health have been developed.
* Issues public health advisories on air pollution-related health matters to States/UTs.
* Shares technical guidelines and IEC materials for public awareness.
* Conducts nationwide campaigns and training workshops.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)**
*Impact:* Responsible for implementing and enforcing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and related action plans.
*Action Required:* Develop and implement city, state, and national-level Clean Air Action Plans, mobilise resources, and participate in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan initiative.
**Citizens**
*Impact:* Affected by air pollution and benefit from improved air quality.
*Action Required:* Participate in air quality improvement efforts, report pollution-related complaints through the SAMEER app, and stay informed through public health advisories.
**Health Professionals and Front Line Workers**
*Impact:* Need to be aware of the health impacts of air pollution and how to minimise them.
*Action Required:* Stay informed about public health advisories and technical guidelines, and participate in training workshops.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A program launched in 2019 to improve air quality in 130 non-attainment and Million-Plus Cities through a comprehensive, integrated, and collaborative approach.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Established to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas through coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of emergency response actions implemented based on the severity of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The ministry to which the question was addressed regarding health impacts of air pollution.
Delhi-NCR: The Delhi National Capital Region is a key location where specific air pollution management efforts are focused.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH RESEARCH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2477
TO BE ANSWERED ON13THFEBRUARY, 2026
HEALTHIMPACTS OFAIR POLLUTION
2477.SHRIBALWANTBASWANTWANKHADE:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research has found that 77 per cent
of the country's populationwas found tobe exposed toambientairpollution levelsabove the national
safe limit and worst hit States are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana,
Uttarakhand and that 26 per cent premature deaths/disease burden have taken place due to air
pollutionandif so, the details thereof;
(b) the position in each of these aspects at the time of independence and at present, in all States
andUnion Territories; and
(c) the correctivesteps taken by the Government ineachof these aspects?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (c): ICMR partnered in a study that developed estimates based on modelling which were
published in a paper titled‘The impact of air pollutionon deaths, disease burden,andlife expectancy
across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017’ in The Lancet Planetary Health
2018. According to these modeled estimates, India contributed to 26.2% of the global disability-
adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to air pollution in 2017. About 76.8% of the population of
India was exposed to annual population-weighted mean Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 greater than 40
μg/m³. Delhi had the highest annual population-weighted mean PM2.5 in 2017, followed by Uttar
Pradesh,Bihar, andHaryana innorth India.
Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has informed thatit launched the
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 to improve airquality in 130 non-attainment and
Million-Plus Cities in 24States/UTs through a comprehensive, integrated and collaborative approach
involving Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) andother stakeholders. It
emphasizes source-specific mitigation measures through the implementation of city, state, and
national-level Clean Air Action Plans. These plans target air pollution sources like soil & road dust,vehicular emissions, waste burning, Construction & Demolition activities, and industrial pollution.
The programme emphasises the mobilisation of resources through convergence of various schemes
of Central & State Governments such as Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City
Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa,PM E-DRIVE, SustainableAlternative TowardsAffordable Transportation
(SATAT), and Nagar Van Yojana, aswell as resources of State Govts. / UT administrations,
Municipal Corporations andotherdevelopmental authorities.
Moreover, the Government hastaken several initiatives toaddress pollution from PM2.5levelsinter-
alia include leapfroggingfrom BS-IVtoBS-VI fuel andvehiclenormseffective from 1st April 2020,
promotion of e-mobility and alternate fuels, voluntary vehicle scrapping policy through Voluntary
Vehicle-Fleet ModernizationProgram (VVMP), implementation of Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) framework for End-of- Life Vehicles(ELVs).
The programme implementation is tracked through the PRANA - Portal for Regulation of Air
Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities. Swachh Vayu Survekshan initiative is conducted annually to
rank 130 cities based on implementation of various air quality improvement measures.
Betterperforming cities are felicitated annually. Further, guidelines for Ward-level Swachh Vayu
Survekshanpromotes awareness andpublic participationtowards airqualityimprovement.
In addition, to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR, Government has established the Commission for
Air Quality Management (CAQM) for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of
problems of air pollution in Delhi- NCR and adjoining areas. Commission has prepared Graded
Response Action Plan (GRAP) which provides set of emergency response actions, depending on
severity of airpollutionlevels, tobe implementedbyidentifiedagenciesfor minimizingairpollution,
a situation that generally persists in the Delhi-NCR during the peak winter months. Based on the
dynamic model and weather forecast on a day-to-day basis, actions under Stages I, II, III and IV of
the GRAPare invokedin advanceinanticipation of the Air Quality Index(AQI) of Delhi reaching to
the projected levels of that stage based on the overall meteorological conditions and anthropogenic
activities. A centralised air quality portal and mobile app-SAMEER are functional for tracking and
dissemination of near real time airquality data and hourly Air Quality Indexto the public. SAMEER
app also serves as a grievance redressal mechanism which allows the citizens to report pollution
relatedcomplaints for quickresolution bythe concernedagencies.
Further, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has informed National Programme on
Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has developed a structured mechanism to address
health concernsdue to airpollution. Under the Programme,a National Action Planon Air Pollution
andHealthwas developedinyear2021andnowallStateshavedevelopedStateActionPlansonAir
Pollution and Health. States/UTs are issued public health advisory on air pollution related health
matters every year so that health professionals, front line workers and people are aware on the Do’s
and Don’ts to minimise, protect and prevent on the health impacts related to air pollution.
States/UTs are also shared Technical Guidelines as well as Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) materials for public awareness. Separate IEC for Children has been
developed. Nationwide campaigns are held on certain International Days related to air pollution.
Varioustrainings, workshops are conductedtotrain the State/UTsteams.
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