Air Pollution & Clean Air
83 of the world's 100 most polluted cities are in India. 1.67–2.0 million deaths annually.
Current Policies
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
Enacted 2019 · Coverage: 102+ Non-attainment cities (Target: 20–30% PM reduction by 2024)
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP Stages I–IV)
Enacted 2017 · Coverage: Delhi-NCR & Adjoining Areas (Triggered at AQI >200, >300, >400, >450)
PM UJJWALA Yojana
Enacted 2016 · Coverage: 9.5 Cr households (Target: 50% solid cooking fuel reduction)
Great Green Wall of Aravalli
Enacted 2019 · Coverage: 1,600 km ecological corridor, 1.35 billion native trees
Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) Vehicle Emission Norms
Enacted 2020 · Coverage: Nationwide motor vehicle fleet
Past Promises
"20%–30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024 (Base year 2017)"
BrokenMade by: MoEFCC (NCAP Launch, 2019)
CAG audit & 2024 reports show most non-attainment cities missed target with 60% funds unspent or diverted
"50% reduction in rural households using solid fuel (biomass/dung) for cooking"
BrokenMade by: Government of India (PM Ujjwala Yojana, 2016)
Over 100 million households still use chulhas 2–3 times daily due to high LPG refill costs
"100% FGD scrubber installation & coal ash <34% in thermal power plants within 1,000 km of pit-heads"
BrokenMade by: CPCB / MoEFCC Guidelines
Deadlines repeatedly extended; major power plant clusters operate without mandatory scrubbers