Air Pollution

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Air Pollution

Air Pollution

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Air pollution in India is a severe and pervasive environmental crisis, particularly in its urban centers. Stemming from a toxic cocktail of sources like vehicle emissions, industrial discharge, biomass burning, and construction dust, it presents a dire threat to public health, the economy, and overall urban livability for hundreds of millions of its citizens.

World Air Quality Report 2024

According to the World Air Quality Report 2024, thirteen of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat on the Assam-Meghalaya border being the most polluted.
India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50.6 μg/m3 – 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 μg/m3.
Delhi continues to be the most polluted Capital city in the world with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3.

Findings from IIT-Delhi & Climate Trends Assessment

Reducing air pollution levels by up to 30% nationwide can lead to a substantial decline in the burden of ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, anaemia and low birth weight among women and children

Delhi residents losing 8.2 years of their lives to high air pollution as per the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)’s 2025 report
According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 annual update, all of India lives in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level (PM2.5) exceeds the WHO annual average limit of 5 μg/m³.

Causes of Air Pollution in India

Industrial Emissions
- Thermal power plants, cement, steel, and chemical industries release large quantities of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), particulate matter (PM₂.₅ & PM₁₀), and heavy metals.
- Use of outdated machinery and poor emission control systems increases pollutant load.
Vehicular Pollution
- Exponential rise in vehicles, especially diesel-based cars, two-wheelers, and transport trucks, emits NOₓ, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
- Poor fuel quality, traffic congestion, and inadequate public transport worsen the issue.
Biomass and Solid Fuel Burning
- Rural households still rely on firewood, dung cakes, and crop residue for cooking and heating.
- Releases large amounts of PM₂.₅, black carbon, and carbon monoxide — a major source of indoor and ambient air pollution.
Agricultural Activities
- Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh contributes massively to winter smog in north India.
- Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides also releases ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Construction and Road Dust
- Urban expansion generates fugitive dust from construction sites, unpaved roads, and demolition waste.
- Poor waste management and lack of green buffers compound particulate pollution.
Waste Burning
- Open burning of municipal solid waste and landfill fires release toxic gases like dioxins, furans, and methane.
- Improper segregation of waste increases the frequency of such incidents.
Thermal Power and Energy Sector
- Coal-based power plants remain the largest stationary source of SO₂ and fly ash emissions.
- Delay in installation of flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) units increases emissions.
Mining and Quarrying
- Dust and emissions from mining operations, stone crushers, and transportation of minerals contribute to localized particulate pollution.
Urban Lifestyle and Consumerism
- Rising use of air conditioners, generators, and household products containing VOCs add to secondary air pollutants and ozone formation.
Natural Factors
- Dust storms from Thar Desert and West Asia, forest fires, and temperature inversion during winters trap pollutants near the ground, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
- The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a bowl-like terrain. During winter, cold air traps pollutants close to the ground, leading to the formation of a thick smog and severe episodic pollution.

Impact of Air pollution

Health Impact
- Premature Deaths:
  - According to a Lancet study, air pollution caused ~1.6 million deaths (17.8% of total deaths) in India in 2019.
- Disease Burden:
  - PM2.5 exposure contributes to ischemic heart disease, COPD, lung cancer, stroke, and neonatal disorders.
- Reduced Life Expectancy:
  - EPIC-University of Chicago (2024) estimates that Indians lose 5.3 years of life expectancy on average due to current pollution levels; in Delhi, the loss exceeds 11 years.
- Infant Mortality
  - More than 116,000 infants in India died within a month of birth in 2019 due to air pollution — outdoor and indoor — according to the State of Global Air 2020 report.
Economic Impact
- GDP Loss:
  - Productivity losses arise from increased sick days, lower worker efficiency, and healthcare costs.
    - A new data-led report by Dalberg Advisors estimated that air pollution costs Indian businesses about USD 95 billion (7 lakh crores) every fiscal year, around 3% of India’s total GDP. The cost is equal to 50% of all tax collected annually, or 150% of India’s healthcare budget.
    - Lost output from premature deaths and morbidity attributable to air pollution accounted for economic losses of US$28.8 billion and $8 billion, respectively, in India in 2019. This total loss of $36.8 billion was 1.36% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).
- Agricultural Productivity:
  - Crop Yield Reduction: Ground-level ozone (O3) is a potent phytotoxin that damages plant cells and reduces agricultural productivity.
    - According to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, surface ozone pollution is having a significant impact on India’s major food crops, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and central India.
      - The findings indicate that under high-emission scenarios with insufficient mitigation, wheat yields could suffer an additional 20% reduction, while rice and maize may experience losses of around 7%.
  - Black carbon deposition also affects soil fertility and plant growth.
- Tourism and Investment:
  - Polluted air reduces city livability rankings and discourages foreign investment and tourism inflows.
- Increased Healthcare Burden: The treatment of air pollution-related diseases places a massive strain on the public healthcare system and household finances.
Environmental Impact
- Climate Linkages:
  - Black carbon and tropospheric ozone act as short-lived climate pollutants, contributing to regional warming and Himalayan glacier melt.
    - The Himalayan glaciers, a critical water source for millions, are receding at an alarming rate, with air pollution identified as a major contributing factor alongside global warming.
  - Aerosols alter monsoon patterns and reduce rainfall efficiency.
- Ecosystem Damage:
  - Acid rain from SO₂ and NOₓ emissions harms forests, aquatic life, and monuments (e.g., Taj Mahal’s marble corrosion due to acid deposition).
- Pollutants contaminate soil and water bodies, harming ecosystems and biodiversity
Social and Developmental Impact
- Health Inequality:
  - Poor households suffer greater exposure due to proximity to polluted roads and use of solid fuels.
  - Over 50% of India’s rural households still rely on biomass for cooking (NFHS-5).
- Urban Livability:
  - Severe Erosion of Urban Livability: Pervasive air pollution fundamentally degrades the quality of life in cities. It forces residents to alter daily behavior, limiting outdoor activities for children and the elderly, reduces visibility, and causes psychological stress. This makes cities less attractive, hampers talent retention, and diminishes the overall urban experience, directly countering goals of sustainable and smart city development.
Governance and Global Standing
- Persistent high pollution undermines India’s commitment to SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
- It also affects India’s global image in climate negotiations and foreign investment attractiveness.

Government Initiatives

Legislative and Policy Frameworks
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019, this is the flagship national-level strategy. The NCAP’s goal is to reduce average particulate matter (PM) concentrations by 40% by 2026 in 131 cities. It focuses on collaborative, multi-sectoral plans.
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of pre-defined emergency measures that are enforced based on the severity of air quality in the Delhi-NCR region (e.g., “Poor,” “Severe,” “Emergency”). This includes steps like banning construction, closing schools, and implementing the odd-even vehicle scheme.
- Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): A statutory body established for the NCR and adjoining areas to coordinate action, oversee implementation, and supersede state directives on air pollution matters.
- Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
  - Provides free LPG connections to poor households to reduce indoor air pollution from solid fuels.
  - Reduces PM₂.₅ and CO exposure for women and children.
- Control of Industrial Emissions
  - CPCB mandates installation of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) in polluting industries.
  - Power plants required to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units to curb SO₂ emissions.
- Waste Management Measures
  - Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) and Plastic Waste Management Rules (2018) mandate segregation and ban open burning.
  - Development of Waste-to-Energy plants in urban areas.
Controlling Vehicular Pollution
- Leapfrogging to Stricter Fuel Norms: India skipped BS-V to directly implement BS-VI (Bharat Stage VI) emission standards nationwide from April 2020, bringing Indian standards in line with Europe’s Euro VI.
- Promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs): Through the FAME India Scheme, the government provides subsidies and incentives for manufacturing and purchasing electric vehicles and for developing charging infrastructure.
- Vehicle Scrappage Policy: A policy to phase out old, polluting vehicles in an environmentally friendly manner.
  - It aims to create an ecosystem for phasing out unfit polluting vehicles across the country through a network of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and Automated Testing Stations (ATSs).
Tackling Industrial and Other Pollution
- Shift to Cleaner Fuels: Mandating the use of cleaner fuels like PNG (Piped Natural Gas) in industries
  - With a view to abate air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, shifting of industrial and commercial applications to cleaner mode of fuels like PNG etc. has been a priority of the Central Government and State Government in the NCR.
- Satellite Monitoring of Stubble Burning: Using satellite technology to identify and monitor crop residue burning events in Punjab, Haryana, and UP.
- Subsidy for Machinery: Providing subsidies to farmers for purchasing Happy Seeders and other farm machinery to manage crop residue without burning.
Monitoring and Public Awareness
- National Air Quality Index (AQI): A nationwide initiative to provide real-time air quality information for public awareness, with color-coded alerts for health implications.
- Expansion of Monitoring Network: Significant expansion of the number of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) across the country to improve data collection.

Way Forward for Air Pollution in India

Source-Centric, Regional Approach: Move beyond city-specific plans to “Air-Shed” based management, tackling regional pollution sources (like stubble burning) collectively across state boundaries with coordinated action plans.
- Establish common platforms for state pollution control boards to share data and best practices.
Green Mobility Push: Massively scale up investment in reliable public transportation (electric buses, metros) and create robust infrastructure for walking and cycling to reduce private vehicle dependency.
- Expand electric vehicle (EV) adoption through incentives and charging infrastructure.
- Promote mass public transport systems (metro, CNG buses, cycling tracks) and discourage private car use through congestion pricing.
Accelerate Clean Energy Transition: Enforce a faster transition to clean fuels across industries, MSMEs, and households. Simultaneously, boost renewable energy capacity to reduce the reliance on coal-fired power plants.
Advanced Monitoring & Accountability: Expand the real-time air quality sensor network and use data analytics for predictive policing of pollution sources. Ensure stricter enforcement of regulations and transparent reporting.
- Expand coverage of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) to rural areas.
- Ensure real-time data sharing with the public for accountability.
Incentivize Sustainable Agriculture: Make the shift away from paddy-wheat cycles and subsidize alternative methods to stubble management more economically attractive for farmers through direct income support.
- Scale up in-situ crop residue management and use of bio-decomposers across states.
- Introduce incentives for farmers shifting to sustainable agricultural practices.
Integrated Health Policy: Mainstream air pollution-related health data into public health policy, creating early warning systems and strengthening healthcare capacity to deal with pollution-induced illnesses.
Control Industrial and Construction Dust
- Mandate continuous emission monitoring in all major industries.
- Enforce strict dust control norms at construction sites and promote the use of recycled materials.
Curb Indoor Air Pollution
- Universalise clean cooking fuels (LPG, biogas, electricity) under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
- Promote energy-efficient cookstoves in remote areas.
Involve Citizens and Communities
- Encourage citizen science projects, school awareness drives, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in clean air initiatives.
- Promote behavioral changes like carpooling, waste segregation, and reduced firecracker use.
Research and Innovation
- Invest in low-cost sensors, smog towers, and air filtration technologies.
- Support interdisciplinary research linking pollution with health, climate, and agriculture.

In conclusion, air pollution in India presents a complex and severe crisis with dire consequences for public health, economic stability, and urban livability. While the government has established crucial policies like the NCAP, the path forward demands a more aggressive, systemic, and collaborative approach. Success hinges on moving beyond isolated measures to integrated regional management, accelerating the transition to clean energy and sustainable agriculture, and fostering a collective responsibility among industries, farmers, and citizens. Ultimately, ensuring clean air is not just an environmental goal, but a fundamental prerequisite for a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for India.

GS-3 Sample Questions

1. Despite multiple policy interventions, air pollution continues to be one of India’s gravest public health and environmental challenges. Examine.

2. Discuss the causes and consequences of air pollution in India. How effective have government initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) been in addressing the crisis?

3. “Air pollution is as much a governance and equity issue as it is an environmental one.” Discuss in the context of India’s urban and rural divide.

4. How can technology, citizen participation, and inter-state coordination together provide a sustainable solution to India’s air pollution problem?

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