Helena Joyce
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most harmful pollutant. In 2019, air pollution caused 1.67 million deaths in India, accounting for significant economic losses. India is taking significant steps to address this crisis, including strengthening vehicular and industrial emission standards, promoting renewable energy and electric vehicles, and supplying cleaner cooking fuels. The National Clean Air Program aims to reduce particulate matter pollution, and India collaborates with organizations like the Clean Air Fund and ITDP to implement solutions such as Low Emission Zones and improve data collection and monitoring. While progress has been mixed, with some cities showing improvements and others experiencing worsening pollution, India is proactively tackling this public health crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution control strategies | India is taking action at the sub-national level for effective air pollution control strategies and applying a new set of tools for airshed-based management. |
| Standardization of tools | Standardizing tools across India is important so that control strategies and relevant data sets can be linked. |
| Revision of ambient air quality standards | The Government of India is planning to revise its ambient air quality standards. |
| Vehicular and industrial emission standards | India has strengthened vehicular and industrial emission standards in recent years. |
| Renewable energy | India has a strong emphasis on expanding renewable energy. |
| Electric vehicles | India is promoting electric vehicles. |
| LPG cooking fuel | India is supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households. |
| National Clean Air Program | India launched an ambitious National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024, later revised to 40% by 2026. |
| Budget allocation | India provided budgets to 131 cities to respond to air pollution through the National Clean Air Program. |
| Energy sector | India's coal usage for energy generation has continued to grow, contributing to air pollution. |
| Local initiatives | Delhi has launched a project to spray bio-decomposer mixtures on farmland, converting crop stubble into manure and preventing harmful burning practices. |
| Low Emission Zones (LEZs) | India is implementing designated Low Emission Zones to restrict polluting vehicles and improve air quality. |
| Environmental Protection Charge | Pimpri Chinchwad, Maharashtra, has implemented an Environmental Protection Charge for polluting vehicles entering LEZs. |
| Public transport | India aims to improve public transport and promote localized climate action. |
| Data collection and research | India is investing in better collection and dissemination of data and research on pollution sources. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Indian government has launched the National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution by 40% by 2026
- India is taking steps to expand renewable energy, promote electric vehicles, and supply LPG cooking fuel to households
- The Clean Air Fund is working with the government and businesses to achieve India's clean air goals
- Remote sensing technology is being used to measure vehicle emissions in real-time
- Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are being implemented in cities across India to restrict polluting vehicles and improve air quality
The Indian government has launched the National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution by 40% by 2026
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most harmful pollutant. The Indian government has taken several steps to address this issue, including launching the National Clean Air Program (NCAP).
The National Clean Air Program is India's flagship program for improving air quality in 122 cities. The program provided budgets to 131 Indian cities to combat air pollution. The NCAP's initial target was to reduce two key air pollutants, PM10 and PM2.5 (ultra-fine particulate matter), by 20-30% by 2024. However, the target was later revised to a 40% reduction by 2026.
The program has shown mixed results, with improvements in some cities like Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kolkata, but worsening air quality in other cities during the winter months of 2023 compared to 2022. The success of the program depends on effective implementation and addressing specific seasonal challenges.
To support the National Clean Air Program and improve air quality, the Indian government has also taken other measures. These include strengthening vehicular and industrial emission standards, promoting renewable energy and electric vehicles, and providing LPG cooking fuel to households. Additionally, the government is working on improving air quality data, monitoring, and source apportionment, as well as facilitating collaboration between various stakeholders to achieve India's clean air goals.
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India is taking steps to expand renewable energy, promote electric vehicles, and supply LPG cooking fuel to households
India is taking several steps to prevent pollution, including expanding renewable energy sources, promoting electric vehicles, and supplying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a clean cooking fuel to households.
Renewable Energy
As the world's third-largest consumer of electricity, India has made significant strides in renewable energy production, ranking third globally. As of October 2024, 46.3% of its energy capacity came from renewable sources, with solar energy leading the way. The country has set ambitious targets, aiming for 50% of its total electricity to be generated from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and a capacity of 500 GW from renewable sources by the same year. To achieve these goals, India plans to issue 50 GW tenders for wind, solar, and hybrid projects in FY2023-24. India also initiated the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which now comprises 121 countries.
Electric Vehicles
The electric vehicle (EV) market in India is experiencing rapid growth, with sales increasing by 19.4% month-over-month and 17.1% year-over-year in January 2025. Two-wheeler EVs currently dominate the market, accounting for 59% of EV sales. The Indian government and automakers are committed to this transition, with Indian automakers planning to launch a dozen new EVs in 2025. The country aims to have 80 million EVs on the road by 2030 and is encouraging domestic EV production through the 'Make in India' initiative.
LPG Cooking Fuel
LPG is the most popular clean cooking fuel in rural India. Since 2015, the Indian government has implemented three major programs to promote LPG adoption among poor and rural households: Pahal, Give it Up, and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (Ujjwala). These programs aim to reduce the cost barrier to adopting clean cooking fuels and have already made significant progress, with 20 million households receiving free connections through Ujjwala as of 2017.
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The Clean Air Fund is working with the government and businesses to achieve India's clean air goals
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. Of the world's 30 cities with the worst air pollution, 17 are in India. The Clean Air Fund, a philanthropic initiative, is working with the Indian government, businesses, and research organizations to help achieve India's clean air goals.
The Clean Air Fund supports the Indian government's efforts to reduce air pollution and catalyze innovation in air quality management. The Fund has been instrumental in empowering healthcare professionals and amplifying health voices in the clean air movement. It works with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners to deliver clean air for all as fast as possible. The Fund provides grants to diverse organizations and committed individuals across the globe, inspiring clean air advocates to share their stories of driving change.
The Fund's India CEO Forum for Clean Air has over 130 members who work to galvanize India's private sector to find solutions to poor air quality. The Confederation of Indian Industry's CEO Forum for Clean Air is a national platform that brings business leaders together to catalyze cross-sector change. Remote sensing technology, for example, is a new way to measure vehicle emissions in real time, rather than in laboratories. The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative, supported the ICCT, worked with authorities in Delhi and Gurugram to conduct emissions testing of on-road vehicles and provided recommendations to the city's government.
The Clean Air Fund also works with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K), which is collaborating with various government departments to improve air quality data, monitoring, and source apportionment. IIT-K's ATMAN Center of Excellence has established a network of low-cost sensors across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to improve air quality and strengthen the existing monitoring ecosystem.
The Clean Air Fund is committed to tackling global air pollution and improving the health and well-being of people in India and around the world.
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Remote sensing technology is being used to measure vehicle emissions in real-time
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 17 of the world's 30 cities with the worst air pollution. The country's air pollution poses a significant threat to its economy and people's health, causing 1.67 million deaths in 2019. To address this, India has taken several measures, including launching the National Clean Air Program, strengthening emission standards, and promoting renewable energy and electric vehicles.
Remote sensing technology plays a crucial role in India's efforts to combat air pollution by measuring vehicle emissions in real time. This technology has been used in India since 2010, with over 1 million measurements collected. Remote sensing offers a more effective and efficient approach to monitoring on-road emissions, especially in cities like Delhi, where the existing programs are becoming less relevant due to technological advancements in vehicles.
The TRUE Initiative, supported by the ICCT and Clean Air Fund, is conducting a study in the Delhi National Capital Region to measure vehicle exhaust emissions at more than 15 locations. This study will provide valuable data to inform policies aimed at improving air quality and reducing negative health impacts. The use of remote sensing technology in Delhi builds upon previous work in the city, including a 2018 study by the International Centre for Automotive Technology and Kolkata's high-emitter identification program, which has utilized remote sensing since 2009.
Remote sensing technology has several advantages over traditional laboratory-based emissions testing. It enables large-scale screening of vehicles under different ambient environmental conditions, providing measurements that are more reflective of real-world situations. This technology is used for two main regulatory approaches: "dirty screening" to identify high-emitting vehicles for inspection, and "clean screening" to exempt low-emitting vehicles from regular inspections, reducing costs and improving public acceptance.
The development and use of remote sensing technology for vehicle emissions continue to evolve, with a focus on improving data collection, extending the scope of measured gases, and enhancing air quality modeling. Remote sensing has been successfully applied in other countries like the United States, China, and Hong Kong, demonstrating its potential for effective emission reduction strategies. India's utilization of remote sensing technology is a significant step towards smarter and more effective policing of on-road emissions, contributing to the country's overall efforts to address air pollution.
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Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are being implemented in cities across India to restrict polluting vehicles and improve air quality
India is taking significant steps to address its air pollution problem, which poses a serious threat to public health and the economy. One key strategy is the implementation of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in cities across the country to tackle vehicular emissions, a significant contributor to air pollution.
LEZs are designated areas in cities where the use of polluting vehicles is restricted or discouraged. The primary goal of LEZs is to reduce tailpipe emissions, thereby improving local air quality and public health. Cities that implement LEZs decide on the categories of polluting vehicles to restrict and the areas where these restrictions will be imposed. Signages, road markings, and ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras are used to enforce these restrictions.
Indian cities, such as Delhi, are exploring the implementation of LEZs to curb vehicular emissions and improve air quality. Delhi, in particular, is considering a phased approach over five years, which includes stricter standards and public transport expansion. Other cities like Pune, Kolkata, and Varanasi have also shown improvements in air quality through various strategies.
LEZs have been successfully implemented in several cities worldwide, including London, Berlin, and Beijing. These zones have helped reduce harmful roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations and increase the number of cleaner vehicles. Additionally, LEZs can incentivize the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and improve public transit systems, further reducing emissions and promoting sustainable urban mobility.
While LEZs offer a strategic approach to reducing vehicular emissions, they must be coupled with other measures and policies for comprehensive results. India is also focusing on expanding renewable energy, promoting electric vehicles, and improving air quality data and monitoring to address air pollution effectively.
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