Context
According to the World Air Quality Report 2024, 13 of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat at the Assam-Meghalaya border being the most polluted.
Key Highlights
- India is the 5th most polluted country in the world, with a mean 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.
- In 2023, India was the 1/3 most polluted country.
- Delhi continues to be the most polluted Capital city in the world with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3.
- Out of the 138 countries and areas, 126 (91.3%) passed the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 μg/m3.
- Only 17% of world cities met WHO air pollution hints.
- PM2.5 concentrations are reduced in every country in Southeast Asia, although trans-boundary haze and lingering El Niño conditions remain fundamental elements.
Air Pollution and Its Concerns
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- When harmful substances (pollutants) – particles, gases, or count – are released into the air and reduce its fine, the air is polluted.
- Common air pollutants include: Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Lead and many others.
- Concerns:
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- Health Related: Respiratory issues, cardiovascular issues, decreased lung feature.
- Environmental: Ecosystem damage, Biodiversity loss, Water pollutants, climate exchange, crop harm.
- Healthcare Costs: The health effects of air pollution result in multiplied healthcare expenses, which include expenses related to the remedy of breathing and cardiovascular diseases.
Steps Taken by Government of India to combat Air Pollution
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in 2019, NCAP is a comprehensive initiative with the purpose of lowering air pollutants in recognized cities and regions across India.
- The application focuses on improving air high-quality tracking, imposing stricter emission requirements, and promoting public awareness.
- Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) Emission Standards: The government implemented BS-VI emission standards for vehicles nationwide in 2020.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): The PMUY scheme aims to provide smooth cooking fuel to families by promoting using liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) as an opportunity to use traditional biomass-based cooking methods.
- FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) Scheme: The FAME scheme promotes the adoption of electrical and hybrid motors to lessen air pollution as a result of vehicular emissions.
- Green Initiatives for Sustainable Habitat (GRIHA): GRIHA is an initiative to sell sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the creation and operation of homes.
- Commission for Air Quality Management: The Commission was established for Air Quality Management within the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas for higher coordination, studies, identity, and backbone of issues surrounding the air quality index.
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): It is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold within the Delhi-NCR location.
- Promotion of Public Transportation: Encouraging the use of public transportation, inclusive of buses and metro systems, facilitates reducing the range of character automobiles on the street, therefore decreasing vehicular emissions.
Source: The Indian Express
UPSC Mains Practice Question
Q. Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)
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