Observed globally on September 7, the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies highlights the need for urgent action against air pollution. In India, the government’s multi-sectoral response includes the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), covering 130 cities. In FY 2025-26, 108 cities recorded lower annual PM10 concentrations than in 2017-18. Of these, 72 achieved reductions of more than 20%, while 26 recorded reductions of more than 40% and 14 met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Strengthened monitoring, cleaner mobility, city-specific action plans and scientific interventions remain central to the country’s clean-air efforts.
Towards Cleaner Air: A Global and National Commitment
Clean air is fundamental to public health, environmental sustainability and economic well-being. As urbanisation and economic activity expand, tackling air pollution has emerged as a major global priority. The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed worldwide on September 7. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in 2019 to strengthen global action against air pollution, raise public awareness and promote measures to improve air quality. India observes the occasion as Swachh Vayu Diwas, linking the global campaign with its national clean-air priorities.
The Government of India is pursuing a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach that combines air-quality monitoring, emission control and city-specific action plans. The Centre supports states and cities through targeted programmes and policy interventions, while state governments and district administrations are responsible for implementing measures on the ground.
Understanding Air Pollution
Air pollution occurs when harmful substances accumulate in the atmosphere at concentrations that can affect human health and the environment. Pollutants may be present as gases, liquid droplets or solid particles and can originate from natural processes as well as human activities such as transportation, industrial operations, construction and burning.
Particulate Matter (PM) is among the key air pollutants. These tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere are commonly classified as PM10 and PM2.5 according to their size. PM10 particles measure 10 micrometres or less in diameter, while PM2.5 particles measure 2.5 micrometres or less. By comparison, a human hair is around 100 micrometres wide, illustrating how small these particles are.
Their small size enables finer particles to penetrate deeper into the respiratory system, with some potentially entering the bloodstream. Controlling particulate pollution is therefore a key priority for cleaner air and healthier communities.
India’s Action to Mitigate Air Pollution
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) initially launched the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) programme, which was subsequently renamed the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The programme aims to periodically assess air pollution, determine ambient air-quality status and trends in urban areas, estimate future changes, and identify violations of prescribed standards and associated health risks.
As of March 2026, India’s ambient air-quality monitoring network comprised 1,646 stations across 603 cities in 28 states and seven Union Territories, including manual and real-time monitoring stations. While manual stations collect and analyse samples periodically, Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (CAAQMS) provide continuous, real-time data.
The SAMEER mobile application and web portal provide near-real-time AQI information for more than 292 cities, improving transparency and public awareness. Public Grievance Redressal Portals have also been established in all NCAP cities to facilitate citizen participation in pollution-control efforts.
Air Pollution Monitoring Systems
India uses specialised systems to monitor ambient air quality as well as emissions from industrial sources. These include the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS), Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (AAQMS) and Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS).
CAAQMS provides automated, real-time monitoring of pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3) and ammonia (NH3). Continuous monitoring enables timely assessment of air-quality conditions.
AAQMS covers both manual and automated monitoring systems. It measures pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants specified under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. It also records meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind direction and wind speed.
Under manual monitoring, air samples are collected over 24 hours and analysed in laboratories, providing detailed information on pollutant concentrations and supporting long-term air-quality assessments.
OCEMS monitors emissions directly at industrial facilities. The systems have been mandated for 17 categories of highly polluting industries and, in Delhi-NCR, for additional categories including medium and large red-category industries, food and food-processing units and metal industries. OCEMS transmit monitoring data continuously to regulatory authorities and CPCB servers, helping assess compliance with prescribed environmental standards.
Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is designed to provide citizens with a simple measure of prevailing air quality. It classifies air quality into six categories based on pollutant concentrations and their potential health impacts. The AQI is calculated using eight pollutants — PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3 and lead (Pb) — with the pollutant having the poorest performance determining the overall AQI.
The six categories are Good, covering an AQI range of 0-50; Satisfactory, covering 51-100; Moderate, covering 101-200; Poor, covering 201-300; Very Poor, covering 301-400; and Severe, covering 401-500.
National Clean Air Programme
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 as a mission-mode initiative to address air pollution in 130 cities. It involves coordinated efforts by the Central and state governments, urban local bodies and other stakeholders. The programme emphasises source-specific mitigation measures through city-, state- and national-level clean-air action plans and is monitored by committees at the Central, state and district levels.
Twenty-four states and Union Territories and all 130 cities have prepared state- and city-specific Clean Air Action Plans targeting key pollution sources through short- and long-term sectoral measures. Between FY 2019-20 and FY 2025-26, Rs 16,423.55 crore was provided to the 130 cities through air-quality performance-linked grants. Cities have reported utilisation of Rs 11,575.54 crore, or 70.5%, of these funds.
In FY 2025-26, 108 cities reduced their annual PM10 concentrations compared with 2017-18. Of these, 72 recorded reductions of more than 20%, 26 recorded reductions of more than 40%, and 14 met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Digital Tracking of Clean-Air Progress
PRANA — Portal for Regulation of Air-Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities — is used to manage and monitor implementation of the NCAP. The portal tracks the physical and financial progress of city Clean Air Action Plans and provides public information on air-quality management initiatives. The data can also support future policy decisions.
Swachh Vayu Survekshan
Swachh Vayu Survekshan is an annual assessment of 130 NCAP cities. Launched in 2022-23 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), it evaluates measures addressing major pollution sources and implementation of city-specific Clean Air Action Plans. The assessment promotes competition, innovation and faster action among cities to improve air quality.
The 2025 Survekshan recognised 11 best-performing cities across three population categories. Among 47 cities with populations of 10 lakh or more, Indore ranked first. Amravati topped the category comprising 44 cities with populations between 3 lakh and 10 lakh, while Dewas ranked first among 40 cities with populations below 3 lakh.
The 2026 Survekshan also introduced a ward-level assessment, reflecting a bottom-up approach to recognising action at the grassroots level. The ward-level survey covered more than 7,400 wards across the country. Among cities, Lucknow ranked first in Category 1, Rourkela topped Category 2 and Kalinganagar led Category 3.
At the ward level, 10 wards were recognised across three population categories. Ward 70 in Lucknow ranked first in Category 1, Wards 30 and 36 in Bhubaneswar topped Category 2, and Ward 13 in Rourkela led Category 3. In addition, 69 wards — three from each state or Union Territory — were recognised across 23 states and Union Territories.
Sector-Wise Measures to Improve Air Quality
Vehicular Emissions
India has introduced BS-VI-compliant vehicles across the country from April 2020 and is promoting electric vehicles through the PM E-Drive scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries and PM E-Bus Sewa of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Electric-vehicle charging infrastructure is also being expanded under guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power.
Other measures include traffic decongestion and junction improvement under city Clean Air Action Plans, the establishment of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and Automated Testing Stations (ATS) to support the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, and the strengthening of the Pollution Under Control certificate system.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also launched PARIVARTAN — Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air-Pollution and Network Emission — a time-bound fleet-modernisation scheme aimed at reducing vehicular pollution in the NCR by incentivising the replacement of BS-IV and older trucks and buses with BS-VI, CNG or electric vehicles.
In Delhi-NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed Delhi and the neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to shift public transport services, particularly buses, towards cleaner modes and augment public-transport infrastructure. From November 1, 2026, only BS-VI, CNG and electric public-transport buses, including tourist buses, will be permitted to enter Delhi under the directions.
CAQM has also issued directions to accelerate cleaner mobility among motor-vehicle aggregators, delivery-service providers and e-commerce entities. The induction of only electric L5-category three-wheelers for passenger and goods transport has been made mandatory in Delhi, followed by high-volume NCR districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar, and subsequently in other NCR districts in a graded manner.
Industrial Emissions
The MoEFCC has notified environmental standards for industrial sectors. Industries without sector-specific standards are required to follow applicable general standards under the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. The CPCB has classified 419 industrial sectors and sub-sectors according to their pollution potential, comprising 125 Red, 137 Orange, 94 Green, 54 White and nine Blue categories.
In Delhi-NCR, CAQM has notified a list of approved fuels for industries and mandated identified industries to install OCEMS and maintain connectivity with CPCB servers. The CPCB has directed 17 highly polluting industry categories to install OCEMS.
CAQM has also revised particulate-matter emission norms for polluting and large industries to 50 mg/Nm3, with the norms set to take effect from October 1, 2026. Air Pollution Control Devices are being installed at identified industrial units accordingly. State Pollution Control Boards have been advised to undertake strict monitoring in non-conforming areas with industrial establishments.
The CEPI-based categorisation identifies industrial clusters as Critically Polluted Areas (CPAs) or Severely Polluted Areas (SPAs). Action plans are required in these areas to reduce pollution loads and improve environmental quality. In 2022, the MoEFCC also notified stricter CPCB IV+ emission standards for diesel-, gasoline- and dual-fuel-operated power generators up to 800 kW.
Road Dust and Construction
Construction and road dust remain major contributors to particulate pollution in Indian cities. Source Apportionment studies undertaken under the NCAP indicate that these sources contribute around 40-50% of PM10 in most cities.
The CPCB has issued guidelines for environmentally sound management of construction and demolition waste and for controlling dust from construction materials and C&D activities. State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are required to deploy anti-smog guns and adequate dust-control measures at construction sites exceeding 20,000 square metres. The CPCB has also issued guidelines on the use of anti-smog guns at C&D projects.
Road-owning, maintaining and construction agencies have been directed to establish Dust Control and Management Cells (DCMCs) in the NCR. As many as 70 DCMCs have been established, with their functioning reviewed regularly by CAQM. An online monitoring mechanism has also been introduced to track compliance with dust-mitigation measures at construction sites with plot areas above 500 square metres in Delhi-NCR.
Other measures include road redevelopment, deployment of mechanised road-sweeping machines and strengthening of infrastructure for C&D waste collection.
Open Waste Burning
Measures to prevent open waste burning include enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, revised in 2026; Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, amended in 2022; Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016; E-Waste Management Rules, 2022; Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022; and Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Market-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements mandate producers to manage post-consumer waste from plastic packaging, e-waste, batteries, tyres and used oil. The framework is intended to increase recycling, reduce landfill pressure and limit emissions associated with informal waste handling.
The government has also banned 12 single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential, including plastic cutlery, straws and thermocol decorations, from July 1, 2022.
Crop Residue and Biomass Burning
The CPCB supports paddy-straw pelletisation and torrefaction plants through one-time financial assistance. CAQM has directed thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi, as well as captive power plants and brick kilns in the NCR, to undertake 5-10% biomass co-firing. These measures are aimed at promoting alternative uses of crop residue and reducing open burning.
The CPCB has sanctioned Rs 37.16 crore for 34 paddy-straw pelletisation and torrefaction plants, including 27 in Punjab and seven in Haryana. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare provided Rs 4,233.84 crore for crop-residue management initiatives between 2018-19 and 2025-26.
More than 3.53 lakh crop-residue management machines have been distributed to farmers and over 43,535 Custom Hiring Centres established across Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The combined measures have yielded a significant decline in stubble-burning incidents, with instances falling by 93% in Punjab and 91% in Haryana in 2025 compared with 2021.
Afforestation and Green Cover
The Green India Mission focuses on improving forest quality, ecological resilience and carbon sequestration. As of March 2026, Rs 1,019.26 crore had been released to states.
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) supports forest restoration and ecological conservation. More than 3.20 lakh hectares of compensatory afforestation were undertaken between FY 2020-21 and 2024-25.
Launched in 2020, the Nagar Van Yojana aims to develop 1,000 Nagar Vans and Vatikas by 2026-27. As of March 31, 2026, Rs 557.62 crore had been released for developing 626 Nagar Vans and Vatikas.
The Aravalli Green Wall initiative targets restoration of 6.31 million hectares across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi. It has established 435 nurseries with a combined capacity of 393.24 lakh seedlings, while about 36,025 hectares were restored during 2025.
The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign has also emerged as a major public environmental initiative, with 262.4 crore saplings planted by December 2025.
Institutions Driving India’s Clean-Air Goals
India has established a multi-level institutional framework involving national regulators, state agencies, urban local bodies and specialised institutions. These bodies are responsible for regulation, monitoring, enforcement, scientific assessment and coordinated action.
Central Pollution Control Board
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a statutory organisation established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It exercises powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The CPCB works to improve air quality and prevent, control and abate pollution while providing technical services to the MoEFCC.
Commission for Air Quality Management
The government enacted the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, establishing CAQM as a statutory body for coordinated management of air pollution across the NCR airshed. CAQM also coordinates implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan across the NCR.
Graded Response Action Plan
GRAP is an emergency framework for responding to deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region. It brings together multiple government agencies to implement graded measures according to the severity of pollution.
The system is triggered when Delhi’s AQI reaches, or is forecast to reach, specified levels. It uses air-quality data, weather forecasts and scientific assessments to facilitate timely action. The four stages range from Poor, covering an AQI of 201-300, to Severe+, covering an AQI above 450. Measures become progressively stricter as air quality deteriorates and include restrictions on dust and emissions, construction and industrial activities, and certain vehicles.
State Pollution Control Boards
State Pollution Control Boards are key regulatory agencies responsible for controlling environmental pollution. In addition to their responsibilities under the Water Act, Air Act and Environment Protection Act, they monitor noise pollution, regulate hazardous and plastic waste, maintain inventories, set standards and oversee compliance across industrial sectors.
Together, these institutions provide a coordinated framework for regulating, monitoring and controlling air pollution. To improve transparency, consistency and efficiency in environmental regulation, the government has amended the Air Act, 1981 and Water Act, 1974 and notified uniform consent guidelines — Control of Air Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025 on January 29, 2025, and Water Pollution (Grant, Refusal or Cancellation of Consent) Guidelines, 2025 on January 30, 2025.
The CPCB has also launched the Unified Consent and Authorization Management System (UCAMS) to facilitate online processing of consent applications by State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees. The system enables end-to-end online processing of consent applications and aims to bring greater uniformity in fees, siting criteria and timelines while improving transparency and traceability.
Way Forward
India’s clean-air strategy will increasingly focus on sustained, source-specific and science-based interventions. Further strengthening air-quality monitoring can improve identification of pollution sources and emerging hotspots, while real-time data, forecasting and scientific modelling can support faster and more targeted responses.
States, cities and district administrations will remain critical to translating national programmes into measurable improvements on the ground. Cleaner mobility, stronger public transport systems and wider adoption of clean fuels can help reduce transport-related emissions.
Better dust management, improved waste processing and tighter industrial emission controls will remain important for tackling major urban pollution sources. Urban greening and ecosystem restoration can provide additional environmental benefits and improve resilience.
Continued technological innovation can support cleaner production methods and more efficient pollution-control systems. Public awareness and citizen participation will also remain essential to sustaining behavioural change.
India’s continued emphasis on collaborative governance, scientific interventions and measurable outcomes can help accelerate the transition towards cleaner air and healthier communities.