The Indian government has rolled out city-specific action plans to tackle worsening air pollution in 130 cities with populations over one million, as part of the ongoing National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). These targeted efforts aim to address major pollution sources such as road dust, construction activity, vehicle emissions, stubble burning, and industrial pollution.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament that ₹13,036 crore has been released under NCAP since FY20, with ₹9,209 crore already utilized by urban local bodies for pollution control measures. The action plans focus on traffic decongestion, road upgrades, junction improvements, and expanding green cover in polluted areas.
Source Apportionment (SA) studies conducted in NCAP cities revealed that dust from roads and construction is responsible for 40–50% of PM10 pollution. To reduce this, cities are implementing dust suppression systems, stricter construction norms, and better solid waste management.
Industries are being directed to comply with emission norms under the supervision of State Pollution Control Boards. On the transport front, the government has enforced BS-VI emission norms and launched schemes such as PM E-DRIVE and PM-eBus Sewa to encourage electric mobility and reduce vehicular pollution.
For the agriculture sector, the Central Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines offering one-time financial support to set up paddy straw-based pelletisation and torrefaction plants, aimed at curbing open-field burning in North India. In addition, thermal power plants and industrial units within 300 km of Delhi have been instructed to co-fire 5–10% biomass with coal as a cleaner alternative.
Performance-based grants through the Central Sector Scheme and the 15th Finance Commission are also being distributed to cities for implementing approved action plans.
Responding to the recently released ‘World Air Quality Report 2024’ that ranked India as the world’s fifth most polluted country, the government pushed back, saying the report’s data is unreliable. Minister Singh stated that only 38% of its sources are government-verified, while the remaining 62% rely on unregulated, low-cost sensors, making the findings inaccurate for regulatory comparison.
India’s multi-pronged strategy under NCAP marks a renewed effort to improve urban air quality through systemic reforms and technological interventions, aiming for long-term health and environmental gains.