The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), has been recently appointed by the Union Environment Ministry as the national verification agency. The lab’s mandate will be to certify instruments and equipment used in monitoring emissions and ambient air, marking a significant development in India’s mission for cleaner air.
The CSIR-NPL’s New Role
The CSIR-NPL will establish the infrastructure, management system, and testing and certification facilities in line with international standards. This decision comes after the initiation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which has led to a surge in the availability of equipment for real-time monitoring of air quality.
The NCAP aims to achieve a 20-30% reduction in the concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 particles by 2024. These fine and coarse pollution particles are prevalent in 102 non-attainment cities, with the focus on their levels from 2017.
Currently, New Delhi holds the highest number of air quality sensors, with an approximate total of 35.
| PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particles) | PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) |
|---|---|
| 20-30% reduction envisioned by 2024 | Concentration prevalent in 102 non-attainment cities |
| Real-time monitoring equipment being enhanced | New Delhi leading in the number of air quality sensors |
Background of CSIR – National Physical Laboratory of India
Located in New Delhi, the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory of India is the country’s measurement standards laboratory. Its responsibilities include maintaining the standards of SI units in India, as well as calibrating the national standards of weights and measures.
The idea of the National Physical Laboratory was born in 1943, conceived by the Governing Body of CSIR. They envisaged bringing science and technology to the forefront of industrial growth and development. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone for the laboratory on January 4, 1947, marking a significant milestone in India’s scientific history.
