**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the government's actions concerning public health advisories and measures to address air pollution-related illnesses, particularly in children, with a focus on Delhi-NCR. The response outlines the government's implementation of the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), collaboration with various organizations, and issuance of public health advisories. The response was submitted on 12.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH)**
* The Government implements the NPCCHH, which addresses air pollution-related illnesses.
* Public health advisories are regularly issued to State/Union Territories (UTs).
* A public health advisory was issued on November 1, 2025, accessible via a provided link.
* The programme has an organizational framework at National, State and District levels.
* The programme builds health system capacity of Delhi Government officials.
* Financial provisions have been made for all States and UTs in National Health Mission Programme Implementation Plans.
* **Collaboration and Engagement:**
* The Government engages with professional bodies like the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
* These bodies are advised to consider air pollution-related illnesses in differential diagnosis.
* Caregivers are encouraged to counsel on preventive and health promotion practices.
* **Public Health Advisory on Air Pollution:**
* Outlines the roles and responsibilities of health officials.
* Strengthens facility-level preparedness for managing cardio-respiratory conditions.
* Advises monitoring AQI through CPCB/SPCB website/Sameer App.
* Requires the initiation of appropriate health-related measures based on pollution severity.
* **Collaboration with CPCB and NCDC:**
* NCDC collaborates with CPCB to develop and periodically update air pollution advisories.
* Advisories include child-focused components (impacts on children, air quality information, strengthening healthcare services and response plans, generating awareness).
* The advisory includes a section on household air pollution.
* **Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):**
* The CAQM has developed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
* The GRAP provides specific emergency response actions based on pollution severity.
* The Commission directed the postponement of physical sport competitions scheduled in November-December on 19th November 2025 for NCT of Delhi/ Haryana/Rajasthan/ Uttar Pradesh.
* Information about GRAP invocation/revocation is available under Citizen Charter of GRAP schedule.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State/Union Territories (UTs)**
**Impact:**
They receive regular public health advisories on air pollution-related illnesses. They are responsible for implementing measures based on the severity of pollution.
**Action Required:**
UTs should follow the public health advisories issued by the government, monitor AQI, and initiate appropriate health-related measures to manage air pollution-related illnesses.
**Stakeholder: Health Officials (State & District Programme officials and health facility personnel)**
**Impact:**
They are given specific roles and responsibilities for managing cardio-respiratory conditions arising from air pollution and strengthening facility preparedness.
**Action Required:**
Monitor observed and forecasted AQI regularly through the CPCB/ SPCB website/Sameer App and initiate appropriate health-related measures for the prevention and management of air pollution related illnesses.
**Stakeholder: Delhi Government Officials**
**Impact:**
Their health system capacity is being built through the NPCCHH program.
**Action Required:**
Participate in capacity-building programs and implement the NPCCHH framework at the National, State, and District levels.
**Stakeholder: Indian Academy of Pediatrics Members**
**Impact:**
Sensitized on ongoing work related to air pollution, advised to consider air pollution-related illnesses in the differential diagnosis, and encouraged to counsel caregivers on preventive and health promotion practices.
**Action Required:**
Consider air pollution-related illnesses in diagnosis, counsel caregivers, and promote practices to reduce air pollution exposure.
**Stakeholder: Children, Especially in Delhi-NCR**
**Impact:**
Benefit from child-focused components in air pollution advisories and measures to reduce pollution levels, including postponement of physical sports events.
**Action Required:**
No direct action required, but parents/guardians should follow the advice of healthcare professionals and adhere to public health advisories.
**Stakeholder: Citizens in Delhi-NCR**
**Impact:**
Informed about air pollution levels and related health risks through advisories and measures taken by the government.
**Action Required:**
Monitor air quality, adhere to public health advisories, and follow preventive measures.
Key Entities Referenced
National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH): A program implemented by the National Centre for Disease Control addressing air pollution-related illnesses and issuing public health advisories.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): The commission collaborating with NCDC to issue child-focused public health alerts and developing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Delhi-NCR: The geographic area where the Air Quality Index (AQI) is monitored, and advisories are issued when AQI exceeds 400.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): Collaborates with CAQM and CPCB to develop and periodically update air pollution advisories.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Specific set of emergency response actions developed by CAQM for minimizing air pollution.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2127
TOBE ANSWERED ON12.12.2025
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
2127.SHRIABHISHEK BANERJEE:
Will the MINISTER OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:-
(a)whether the Government has issued anypublic health advisory or guidelines in2025 to
warn citizens, particularly parents and schools, during periods when the Air Quality Index
(AQI)inDelhi-NCR exceeds400 andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government hastaken measures to coordinate with the Delhi Government,
hospitals and paediatric associations for preventing and managing air pollution-linked
respiratory illnesses amongchildrenandif so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether hospitals and clinics have been directed to display real-time AQI levels or
provide medical guidance during severe pollution episodes and if so, the details thereof;
and
(d) the steps being taken by the Government in collaboration with the Commission for Air
Quality Management (CAQM) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to
issue child-focused public healthalerts?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH& FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d) The Government through National Centre for Disease Control implements
National Programme onClimate Change andHuman Health(NPCCHH) thataddresses air
pollution related illnesses and regularly issues public health advisories on air pollution
related illnesses to State/Union Territories (UTs). Public health advisory was issued on 1st
November 2025toState/UTswhich can be accessed at
https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ministrys-DO-dated-01.11.2025.p
df
Government through the program NPCCHH has operationalised an organisational
framework at National, State and District level. Government through the Programme
builds health system capacity of Delhi Government officials. Financial provisions havebeen made for all States and UTs in National Health Mission Programme Implementation
Plans (including for Delhi Government) for capacity building, facility preparedness and
awareness generation. Government engages with the professional bodies like the Indian
Academy of Paediatrics to sensitize their members on ongoing work related to air
pollution. Members of these bodiesare advised toconsider airpollution relatedillnesses in
the differential diagnosis. They are also encouraged to counsel caregivers on preventive
and health promotion practices that help reduce air pollution at the source and minimize
exposure.
The Public Health Advisory on Air Pollution outlines the roles and responsibilities of
health officials, including strengthening facility level preparedness for managing cardio-
respiratory conditions arising from air pollution. It advises State and District Programme
officials and health facility personnel to monitor observed and forecasted AQI regularly
through Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)/ State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
website/Sameer App and initiate appropriate health related measures for the prevention
and management of air pollution related illnesses depending on severity of the pollution
levels intheirrespective areas.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) collaborates with CPCB to develop and
periodically update the air pollution advisories, which includes child-focused components
such as information on potential impacts in children, strengthening availability of air
quality information in health sector and schools, strengthening healthcare services for
respiratory conditions, developing health sector response plans and generating awareness.
The advisory also includes a dedicated section on household air pollution, which affects
children predominantly.
“Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining
Areas” has developed Graded response Action Plan (GRAP) that provides specific set of
emergency response action, depending on the severity of air pollution levels to be
implemented by identified agencies for minimizing air pollution. The Commission has
also issued direction to Government of NCT of Delhi/ Haryana/Rajasthan/ Uttar Pradesh
on 19th November 2025 for postponement of physical sport competitions scheduled in
November-December. The Commission posts the relevant information about
invocation/revocation of GRAP and measures to be followed under Citizen Charter of
GRAPschedule.
https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/citizen_charter_grap.pdf
*****