Introduction

Ambitious Goals: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce particulate matter concentrations by 40% by 2026 in 131 Indian cities.
Mixed Results: An analysis by Respirer Living Sciences and Climate Trends reveals varied progress among cities, with only a few meeting targeted declines in PM 2.5 levels.

About National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

	Details
Launch	Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
Objective	To create a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound target for reducing air pollution.
Targets	Aims to reduce the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles by at least 20% in five years, using 2017 as the base year.
Coverage	Focuses on 132 non-attainment cities identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Non-attainment Cities	Cities that have consistently fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.
NAAQS Pollutants	Includes PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, NH3, Ozone, Lead, Benzene, Benzo-Pyrene, Arsenic, and Nickel.
Current Standards	Annual average prescribed limits are 40 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 60 µg/m3 for PM10.
Revised Targets (2022)	Updated target of a 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026.
Improvement Assessment	Requires a 15% or more reduction in annual average PM10 concentration and at least 200 clean air quality days starting from 2020-21.

Inconsistent Declines: Among 49 cities with consistent data over five years, 27 showed a decline in PM 2.5, but only four met or exceeded targets.
Notable Increases in Pollution: Cities like Delhi, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, Ujjain, Jaipur, Visakhapatnam, and Pune have seen marginal declines or increases in PM 2.5 levels.

Significant Reductions: Cities like Varanasi, Agra, and Jodhpur reported substantial declines in PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels.
Uttar Pradesh’s Progress: Except for Jodhpur, cities achieving the 2026 reduction targets are predominantly from Uttar Pradesh.
Indo-Gangetic Plain’s Pollution: The IGP remains a hotspot for high PM 2.5 levels, with 18 of the top 20 polluted cities located in this region.

Annual Variations: Pollution levels can vary significantly within a year, with northern and eastern Indian cities peaking during winter.
Air Quality Monitoring Infrastructure: The number and distribution of continuous ambient air quality monitors significantly impact the accuracy of pollution data.
Geographical and Meteorological Influences: The study acknowledges the need for further research to understand the impact of emissions, geography, and weather on pollution levels.

Noteworthy Efforts: The NCAP has made progress in reducing pollution in some cities, but the overall effectiveness remains unclear.
Enhanced Monitoring: The addition of new air quality monitoring stations is expected to provide a clearer picture of pollution levels and aid in mitigation efforts.

Persistent Pollution Challenges: Despite some successes, many urban areas continue to struggle with rising pollution levels.
Commitment to Environmental Goals: The NCAP’s revised target reflects India’s commitment to ambitious environmental objectives.
Need for Comprehensive Strategies: Effective air quality management requires a combination of robust monitoring, targeted policy interventions, and public awareness to achieve sustainable improvements in air quality.