India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has made progress but fallen short of its ambitious targets. Data from 2024-25 reveals only one in five of the 130 most polluted cities funded under NCAP have met the goal of reducing particulate matter (PM10) by 40% from 2017-18 levels. Despite improvements in many cities, some have seen pollution levels rise.
Background and Objectives of NCAP
Launched in 2019, NCAP aimed to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20-30% by 2024 from 2017 baselines. In 2022, targets were revised to achieve up to 40% reduction in PM10 by 2025-26. No specific targets were set for PM2.5 after revision. The goal was to meet national air quality standards, keeping PM10 under 60 µg/m³ annually.
Funding and Implementation
NCAP supports 130 cities. Forty-eight cities with populations over one million receive funds under the 15th Finance Commission’s Million Plus City Challenge Fund. The remaining 82 cities are funded through the Ministry of Environment’s Control of Pollution Scheme. A total of ₹13,036.52 crore was allocated for critical gap funding linked to performance.
Progress and Performance
By 2024-25, only 25 cities achieved the 40% reduction target in PM10 levels. Another 25 cities reported an increase in PM10 since 2017-18. Overall, 103 cities showed some reduction in PM10. Of these, 22 cities met both the 40% reduction target and maintained PM10 below 60 µg/m³ annually.
Top Performers and Notable Improvements
The cities with the highest PM10 reduction are Bareilly (76%), Varanasi (74.3%), and Firozabad (59.5%) in Uttar Pradesh, and Dehradun (57.2%) in Uttarakhand. Mumbai improved by 44%, Kolkata by 37%, Delhi by 15%, and Chennai by 12%. These gains show the impact of measures such as pollution control, industrial regulation, and public awareness campaigns.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Despite progress, many cities lag behind targets. Rising pollution in 25 cities indicates uneven implementation. The absence of targets for PM2.5 after 2022 is a concern since PM2.5 has more severe health impacts. Strengthening monitoring, enforcement, and expanding clean energy use are critical for future gains.
Government Response and Future Outlook
The Environment Ministry acknowledges improvements but stresses the need for sustained efforts. The March 2026 deadline remains a key milestone. Continued funding, technology adoption, and community involvement are essential to meet air quality goals and protect public health.
Questions for UPSC:
- Taking example of the National Clean Air Programme, discuss the challenges and strategies in controlling urban air pollution in India.
- Examine the role of government funding and policy frameworks in achieving environmental targets. How can performance-linked grants improve outcomes?
- Analyse the health and economic impacts of particulate matter pollution in Indian cities. Discuss in the light of recent air quality trends.
- Critically discuss the importance of setting measurable targets for different pollutants in national environmental programmes. How does this affect policy effectiveness and public health?
