Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed concerns about increasing air pollution in India, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in January 2019, aims to improve air quality in 130 cities through city-specific action plans targeting various pollution sources. Funds are allocated to cities based on air quality performance, and various measures are being implemented to control vehicular and industrial pollution.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):
- Launched in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 cities.
- City-Specific Clean Air Action Plans address soil/road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, construction/demolition, and industrial pollution.
- 103 cities showed a 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
- 25 cities have achieved a reduction of more than 40%
- 22 Cities have met NAAQS and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 gm3.
Air Quality Improvement Data:
- Mumbai: 44% reduction in PM10 levels in FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2017-18.
- Kolkata: 37% reduction.
- Delhi: 15% reduction.
- Chennai: 12% reduction.
Funding and Allocation:
- 48 Million Plus Cities Urban Agglomerations are funded under XVth Finance Commission Million Plus City Challenge Fund
- 82 cities are funded under Control of Pollution Scheme of MoEFCC.
- Rs. 13,036.52 crore provided to 130 cities as performance-linked grants.
Central Government Measures:
- Notified emission standards for over 80 industries.
- Implemented Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms.
- Introduced Vehicle Scrapping Policy.
- Implemented waste management rules.
- Mandated crop residue utilization in thermal power plants.
- Categorized industrial areas based on pollution levels (CPAs/SPAs).
- Promote Electric Vehicles and charging infrastructure through various Central Schemes.
- Provided an allocation of 13,778 crore under PM E-bus Sewa scheme for electric buses and charging stations.
- Notified the Environment Protection (End-of Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025 on 06.01.2025.
- Established Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) App for waste burning complaints.
- Monitor industrial pollution through Consent Mechanism and Environmental Clearance.
Specific Measures for Delhi-NCR:
- Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) constituted.
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) formulated.
- Directions issued for pollution control from DG sets, industries, transport, and construction sites.
- Migration of public transport to cleaner modes (EV/CNG/BS-VI diesel).
- Co-firing of biomass with coal in thermal power plants.
- Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) in industries.
- Shift to PNG/cleaner fuels in industries.
- Conversion of brick kilns to zigzag technology.
- Ban on pet coke and furnace oil.
- Enforcement of anti-smog guns and dust control measures.
- Establishment of Dust Control and Management Cell.
- Online monitoring of dust mitigation at construction sites.
- Deputation of CPCB teams for inspections.
Impact Analysis:
Citizens:
Impact: Improved air quality and reduced respiratory ailments.
Action Required: Utilize the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) App to report instances of waste burning and other pollution sources.
State Governments/UT Administrations:
Impact: Required to implement the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and city-specific action plans.
Action Required: Implement measures for pollution control from vehicles, industries, and construction sites; ensure compliance with emission standards and waste management rules. Establish Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF) and Automated Testing Stations (ATS).
Local Bodies:
Impact: Responsible for implementing air quality improvement measures at the city level.
Action Required: Clear garbage vulnerable points, enforce dust control measures at construction sites, and redress public grievances related to air pollution.
Industries:
Impact: Subject to stricter emission standards and regulations.
Action Required: Install Online Emission and Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS), shift to cleaner fuels (PNG/Biomass), and comply with waste management rules.
Transport Sector:
Impact: Transition to cleaner fuel vehicles (EV/CNG/BS-VI diesel).
Action Required: Migrate public transport services to cleaner modes, establish charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy launched in January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to tackle air pollution across the country with an objective to achieve a reduction in PM10 concentrations in 130 cities.
Delhi: One of the major Indian cities with significant air pollution levels. Specific measures have been taken by the government for air quality improvement in Delhi.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: A major Indian city with notable improvement in PM levels.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A major Indian city with notable improvement in PM levels.
Kolkata, West Bengal: A major Indian city with notable improvement in PM levels.
Air Quality Index (AQI): A metric used to report daily air quality, with funds under NCAP being provided to Million Plus Cities based on the reduction in annual average PM10 concentrations and increase in the number of good air quality days (AQI less than 200).
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules under which emission standards for more than 80 industries have been notified by the Central Government for air quality management.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas: An organization constituted for coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR in coordination with the Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 207
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Increasing Air Pollution in the Country
207. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:
SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the data on pollution level in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and its level of
pollution compared to other cities in the world;
(b) whether the condition of air pollution has reached at dangerous levels in various cities
of the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata and if so, the city-wise
details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the number of diseases caused by air pollution has increased in the country
during the last few years and if so, the total number of people died as a result thereof,
State/UT- wise;
(d) the amount allocated and utilised during the last five years to reduce the air pollution in
the country, State/UT-wise;
(e) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to reduce pollution across the
country particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata;
(f) whether the Government is working on any action plan to control air pollution and bring
the Air Quality Index (AQI) below 50 within the next five years in the country; and
(g) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government will consider any such
action plan?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b)
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 130
cities of the country including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata through implementation
of National, State and City level clean air action plans.
City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared by all cities 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.As per recent data, there has been notable improvement in PM₁₀ levels in major Indian cities.
Mumbai has shown improvement in PM₁₀ levels with a 44% reduction in 2024-25 compared to
FY 2017-18, followed by Kolkata (37%), Delhi (15%), and Chennai (12%). PM10 data in
respect of 2017-18 and 2024-25 and per cent improvement in PM10 concentrations of Mumbai,
Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai in FY 2024-25 w.r.t. FY 2017-18 is enclosed at Annexure I. These
improvements reflect the positive impact of various air quality improvement measures
implemented under NCAP.
Pollution levels across countries are not directly comparable due to differences in geographical
settings, weather conditions, and national circumstances. Additionally, each country follows its
own National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which vary and are not directly
comparable.
The focused 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
NAAQS and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 µg/m3. Details of air quality improvement
in cities covered under NCAP is placed at Annexure II.
(c)
There are several studies conducted by different organizations on the health impact of air
pollution, which is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated
diseases. However, there is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of
deaths due to air pollution. Health is affected by cumulative impact of a number of factors apart
from the environment, which include food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status,
medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals.
(d)
Out of 130 cities under NCAP, 48 Million Plus Cities/ Urban Agglomerations are funded under
XVth Finance Commission Million Plus City Challenge Fund as an air quality performance
grant, and remaining 82 cities are funded under Control of Pollution Scheme of MoEFCC.
Performance linked grant of Rs. 13,036.52 crore has been provided to 130 cities for critical gap
funding to implement air quality improvement measures. Details of State-wise fund released
and utilised under NCAP & XVFC from the FY 2019-20 to 2025-26 is placed at Annexure
III.
(e)
Key measures taken by the Central Government for air quality management including control
of vehicular and industrial pollution are placed at Annexure IV. Specific measures taken in
Delhi in respect of air quality improvement are placed at Annexure V.
(f) and (g)
Government of India has already launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019
as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle air pollution across the country
with an objective to achieve a reduction in PM10 concentrations.Funds under NCAP are being provided to 48 Million Plus Cities based on the reduction in
annual average PM10 concentrations and increase in the number of good air quality days (Air
Quality Index less than 200).
***Annexure I
Improvement in PM10 concentrations of Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai in FY 2024-
25 w.r.t. FY 2017-18
2017-2018 2024-25
Average Average % improvement
Sl.
Cities concentration concentration in 2024-25
No.
(F.Y.) of PM (F.Y.) of PM w.r.t. FY 2017-18
10 10
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
1 Mumbai 161 90 44
2 Kolkata 147 92 37
3 Delhi 241 203 15
4 Chennai 66 58 12Annexure II
Improvement in PM10 concentrations of 130 Cities under NCAP in FY 2024-25 w.r.t. FY
2017-18
2017-2018 2024-25
Average Average % improvement
Sl.
Cities concentration concentration in 2024-25
No.
(F.Y.) of PM (F.Y.) of PM w.r.t. FY 2017-18
10 10
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
1 Bareily 207 48 76.8
2 Varanasi 230 59 74.3
3 Firozabad 247 100 59.5
4 Dehradun 250 107 57.2
5 Moradabad 222 96 56.8
6 Kanpur 227 102 55.1
7 Tuticorin 123 56 54.5
8 Nalagarh 146 68 53.4
9 Agra 202 103 49.0
10 Dhanbad 315 166 47.3
11 Ghaziabad 285 154 46.0
12 Raebareli 145 79 45.5
13 Surat 130 71 45.4
14 Jhansi 109 60 45.0
15 Jalandhar 178 99 44.4
16 Greater Mumbai 161 90 44.1
17 Kohima 127 71 44.1
18 Byrnihat 175 98 44.0
19 Lucknow 253 142 43.9
20 Badlapur 160 90 43.8
21 Srinagar 132* 76 42.4
22 Allahabad 169 99 41.4
23 Ulhasnagar 153 90 41.2
24 Amritsar 189 112 40.7
25 Rajkot 150 89 40.7
26 Sunder Nagar 78 47 39.7
27 Baddi 174 108 37.9
28 Kolkata 147 92 37.4
29 Ahmedabad 164 103 37.2
30 Faridabad 229* 147 35.8
31 Jodhpur 189 122 35.4
32 Trichy 88 57 35.22017-2018 2024-25
Average Average % improvement
Sl.
Cities concentration concentration in 2024-25
No.
(F.Y.) of PM (F.Y.) of PM w.r.t. FY 2017-18
10 10
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
33 Noida 229 149 34.9
34 Rishikesh 129 84 34.9
35 Thane 138 90 34.8
36 Howrah 139 92 33.8
37 Akola 111 74 33.3
38 Naya Nangal 87 58 33.3
39 Vadodara 133 90 32.3
40 Alwar 152 105 30.9
41 Rajamuhndary 85 59 30.6
42 Gorakhpur 150 105 30.0
43 Vijayawada 91 64 29.7
44 Khanna 142 101 28.9
45 Kala Amb 118 84 28.8
46 Jabalpur 101 73 27.7
47 Gajraula 204 148 27.5
48 Parwanoo 66 48 27.3
49 Dera Baba Nanak 79 58 26.6
50 Hyderabad 110 81 26.4
51 Bengaluru 92 68 26.1
52 Amravati 102 76 25.5
53 Kadapa 75 56 25.3
54 Sivasagar 73 55 24.7
55 Ranchi 141 107 24.1
56 Kurnool 79 60 24.1
57 Ludhiana 168 129 23.2
58 Ananthpur 78 60 23.1
59 Devanagere 74 57 23.0
60 Hubli-Dharwad 79 61 22.8
61 Dimapur 142 112 21.1
62 Jammu 157 124 21.0
63 Nagaon 82 65 20.7
64 Nellore 64 51 20.3
65 Durg Bhilainagar 86 69 19.8
66 Khurja 195 159 18.5
67 Latur 82 67 18.3
68 Jaipur 172 142 17.42017-2018 2024-25
Average Average % improvement
Sl.
Cities concentration concentration in 2024-25
No.
(F.Y.) of PM (F.Y.) of PM w.r.t. FY 2017-18
10 10
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
69 Kota 139 115 17.3
70 Meerut 159 133 16.4
71 Mandi Gobindgarh 148 124 16.2
72 Delhi 241 203 15.8
73 Madurai 72 61 15.3
74 Sangli 87 74 14.9
75 Chittur 70 60 14.3
76 Patiala 106 91 14.2
77 Ujjain 93 80 14.0
78 Chennai 66 58 12.1
79 Haldia 92 81 12.0
80 Anpara 175 155 11.4
81 Eluru 72 64 11.1
82 Muzaffarpur 147 131 10.9
83 Asansol 147 131 10.9
84 Ongole 65 58 10.8
85 Vasai virar 99 90 9.1
86 Kolhapur 89 81 9.0
87 Pune 102 93 8.8
88 Nagpur 100 92 8.0
89 Nashik 82 76 7.3
90 Gwalior 126 117 7.1
91 Jalna 99 93 6.1
92 Kashipur 99 93 6.1
93 Chandrapur 118 111 5.9
Gulburga /
94 55 52
Kalaburgi 5.5
95 Udaipur 127 121 4.7
96 Bhopal 112 107 4.5
97 Cuttack 93 89 4.3
98 Paonta Sahib 84 81 3.6
99 Guntur 66 64 3.0
100 Guwahati 103 100 2.9
101 Patna 172 167 2.9
102 Nalbari 87 85 2.3
103 Durgapur 150 149 0.72017-2018 2024-25
Average Average % improvement
Sl.
Cities concentration concentration in 2024-25
No.
(F.Y.) of PM (F.Y.) of PM w.r.t. FY 2017-18
10 10
(µg/m3) (µg/m3)
104 Chandigarh 114 114 0.0
105 Kalinga Nagar 109 109 0.0
106 Bhubneshwar 85 86 -1.2
107 Sangareddy 85 86 -1.2
108 Indore 82 83 -1.2
109 Damtal 55 56 -1.8
110 Navi Mumbai 88 90 -2.3
111 Solapur 81 83 -2.5
112 Vizhianagaram 72 74 -2.8
113 Dewas 83 86 -3.6
114 Talcher 113 119 -5.3
115 Barrackpore 86 92 -7.0
116 Raipur 70 75 -7.1
117 Jamshedpur 135 145 -7.4
118 Sagar 73 79 -8.2
119 Gaya 79 87 -10.1
120 Silchar 49 54 -10.2
121 Balasore 84 93 -10.7
122 Dera Bassi 88 98 -11.4
123 Rourkela 99 111 -12.1
124 Srikakulam 69 79 -14.5
125 Angul 97 116 -19.6
126 Korba 57 69 -21.1
127 Nalgonda 59 78 -32.2
128 Jalgaon 70 93 -32.9
129 Visakhapatnam 76 101 -32.9
130 Aurangabad 75 100 -33.3
* PM levels in the FY 2017-18 for Faridabad and Srinagar are not available. PM levels of FY
10 10
2020-21 for Faridabad and PM levels of FY 2018-19 for Srinagar have been considered as a
10
baseline.Annexure-III
State Wise Fund Sanctioned & Utilization details under NCAP & XVFC from the FY 2019-
20 to 2025-26 (till date)
(Amount in Rs. crore)
S.No. State Released Utilization
1 Andhra Pradesh 384.17 194.06
2 Assam 89.70 56.80
3 Bihar 369.34 285.72
4 Chandigarh 38.09 31.17
5 Chhattisgarh 300.42 191.30
6 Delhi 62.03 13.94
7 Gujarat 1282.98 957.51
8 Haryana 107.14 43.73
9 Himachal Pradesh 20.18 15.32
10 Jammu & Kashmir 151.97 61.43
11 Jharkhand 279.44 177.08
12 Karnataka 611.72 356.40
13 Madhya Pradesh 820.04 639.69
14 Maharashtra 1774.62 1417.18
15 Meghalaya 10.05 5.72
16 Nagaland 25.56 18.33
17 Odisha 91.07 72.50
18 Punjab 325.77 215.46
19 Rajasthan 680.38 572.45
20 Tamilnadu 652.24 537.35
21 Telangana 737.80 443.92
22 Uttar Pradesh 2822.98 1935.66
23 Uttrakhand 85.615 53.18
24 West Bengal 1313.21 906.31
Total 13036.52 9202.21Annexure IV
Measures taken by the Central Government for air quality management:
i. Emission standards for more than 80 industries have been notified under Environment
(Protection) Rules, 1986
ii. Leapfrogging to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emissions norms from 1st April 2020
iii. Vehicle Scrapping Policy, Rules for Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities and Automated
Testing Stations by MoRTH
iv. Waste management rules for solid waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, e-waste, battery
waste, biomedical waste, 100% ash utilisation by Thermal Power Plants
v. Mandate for utilisation of minimum 5% of crop residue along with coal (pellets/brickettes) in
thermal power plants in NCR and adjoining areas
vi. Categorization of industrial areas as Critically and Severely Polluted Areas (CPAs/SPAs)
based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).
vii. To address vehicular emissions, the Government has taken several proactive measures such as
introduction of BS-VI fuel norms for vehicles from 1st April 2018 in NCT of Delhi and from
1st April 2020 for the rest of the country, introduction of vehicle scrapping policy and
promotion of Electric Vehicles and charging infrastructure through various Central Schemes.
viii. Further, under PM E-bus Sewa scheme of MoHUA, an allocation of ₹13,778 crore out of the
total ₹57,613 crore scheme outlay has been provided for enhancing urban transport through
deployment of electric buses and charging stations.
ix. Further, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has directed the State Govt./UT
administrations to establish Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF) and Automated
Testing Stations (ATS).
x. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Environment Protection
(End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025 on 06.01.2025 for environmentally sound management of
end-of-life vehicles.
xi. Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM 2.0) Scheme of the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs (MoHUA), solid waste processing facilities in 130 cities have been undertaken.
xii. To address open burning of waste, Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) App has been
developed and floated in all 130 Cities for online registration of complaints by the citizens and
quick redressal by local bodies. Further, local bodies under NCAP have been directed to clear
garbage vulnerable points, which are prone to open burning.
xiii. Industrial pollution is monitored by concerned SPCBs/PCCs through Consent Mechanism
under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Environmental Clearance
issued under EIA Notification, 2006, as applicable, by MoEFCC and its regional offices. 17
categories of highly polluting industries have been directed to install Online Emission and
Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS).Annexure V
Specific measures taken in Delhi in respect of air quality improvement:
i. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and
Adjoining Areas has been constituted for coordination, research, identification and
resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR in co-ordination with the
Govt. of National Capital Territory of Delhi and the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
and Uttar Pradesh.
ii. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been formulated for Delhi NCR to tackle the
issue of sudden rise in air pollution and necessary directions were issued by CAQM for its
implementation. Actions listed for different Air Quality Index (AQI) levels under GRAP
are invoked from time to time.
iii. Directions prescribing measures for control of pollution from various sources such as
implementation of RECD system/ dual fuel kits in DG sets, use of cleaner fuels in
industries, shift to EV/ CNG/ BS VI diesel fuel in transport sector, implementation of dust
control measures at C&D sites etc., have been issued by CAQM.
iv. Directions issued by CAQM to Government of NCT of Delhi and State Governments of
Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for migration of public transport services, especially
buses in NCR to cleaner modes. All state govt. bus services between Delhi and any
city/town in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to be operated only through
EV /CNG/BS-VI diesel w.e.f. 01.11.2023.
v. CAQM has issued directions for co-firing of 5-10% biomass with coal in thermal power
plants located within 300 kms of Delhi, and, in captive power plants of industrial units
located in NCR.
vi. Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) in red category air polluting
industries in Delhi-NCR have been installed.
vii. Industrial units in Delhi have shifted to PNG/cleaner fuels and, operational units in NCR
have shifted to PNG/Biomass.
viii. Directions have been issued for conversion of brick kilns to zig-zag technology in Delhi
and NCR.
ix. Ban on use of pet coke and furnace oil as fuel in NCR States was issued since October 24,
2017.
x. An approved fuel list is in force in Delhi-NCR w.e.f. 01.01.2023. Industries operating on
only PNG or biomass are permitted in NCR, except for specific requirement of other fuels
by specific industries owing to technical, technological and process requirements.
xi. Stringent PM emission norms for biomass based boilers have been prescribed for
compliance in NCR.
xii. Directions issued to DPCC and SPCBs in NCR to enforce installation of anti-smog guns
and other dust control measures at C&D sites.xiii. Directions issued for setting up of a “Dust Control and Management Cell” by road owning/
maintaining/ construction agencies for monitoring and effective implementation of dust
control measures in the NCR.
xiv. Online monitoring mechanism (through web portal) has been introduced for monitoring
compliance of dust mitigation measures for construction sites.
xv. 40 teams have been deputed by CPCB since December 2021, to assist CAQM, for
conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in Delhi-
NCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other
provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act, 1981.
*****