Air Pollution In India: What's The Percentage?

India has some of the highest air pollution levels in the world, with 100% of its population exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5. In 2019, India was ranked 5th in the world for air pollution, with 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world located in the country. Air pollution in India is a serious environmental issue that disproportionately affects women, newborns, and young children. It is caused by a variety of factors, including industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, crop burning, and the use of solid fuels and biomass for cooking and heating. The economic loss due to premature deaths and morbidity attributable to air pollution in India in 2019 was estimated to be US$28.8 billion, with a total economic loss of US$36.8 billion, accounting for 1.36% of India's GDP. India has implemented various initiatives and policies to address air pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme, and there is a growing awareness of the consequences of poor air quality, putting pressure on authorities to take effective action.

India's air pollution sources

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, and the country is facing a major public health crisis as a result. In 2019, India was the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, and the same year, air pollution caused approximately 1.67 million deaths and an estimated loss of $28.8 billion in output.

The main sources of India's air pollution include:

Industrial and Vehicular Emissions:

Over half of India's air pollution is caused by industrial pollution, with vehicles contributing to around a quarter of the total. This includes emissions from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, as well as vehicular emissions from adulterated fuel blends. Some Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws, for instance, run on adulterated fuel blends, which increase emissions of harmful pollutants.

Crop and Biomass Burning:

Large-scale crop residue burning in agricultural fields, particularly during autumn and spring, is a significant source of smoke, smog, and particulate pollution. Additionally, in rural areas, biomass burning for cooking and heating is a major contributor. This includes the use of fuelwood, agricultural waste, biomass cakes, and dung cakes, which produce smoke and air pollutants.

Construction and Power Sources:

Construction dust and debris, as well as India's dependence on thermal power for electricity, contribute to air pollution. Windblown dust from construction sites, roads, and industrial plants can contain fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is the most harmful pollutant to human health.

Waste Burning and Tyres Pyrolysis:

Unsanctioned tyre pyrolysis plants, which recycle rubber tyres, contribute to severe air pollution. Waste burning, in general, is a significant issue, and poor waste management practices further exacerbate air pollution.

Household Sources:

In homes, tobacco smoke and inefficient cooking stoves that burn solid fuels contribute to indoor air pollution. This is particularly detrimental in households that lack access to clean energy options.

Addressing these sources of air pollution requires a multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional approach, with improved data accessibility and standardized control strategies. India has taken steps towards tackling this issue, such as launching the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, which aims to reduce particulate pollution.

The impact of air pollution on health

India is the world's second most polluted country, with 21 out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world in 2019. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and up to 11.9 years in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the most polluted city globally. All of India's 1.3 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline.

In 2016, ambient (outdoor) air pollution was responsible for an estimated 1,795,181 deaths in the country due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. WHO estimates that around 7 million people die annually from exposure to polluted air, leading to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and respiratory infections. Air pollution disproportionately affects women, newborns, and young children. In 2019, a Lancet study found that nearly 1.67 million deaths and a loss of US$28.8 billion in output were attributed to worsening air pollution in India.

In homes, the major sources of air pollution are tobacco smoke and the smoke from solid fuels with inefficient and leaky cooking stoves. Some reports claim that 300,000 to 400,000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in India due to biomass burning and the use of traditional cookstoves. Fuelwood and biomass cakes are used for cooking and heating in over 100 million Indian households, and the burning of biomass and firewood will not stop until electricity or clean-burning fuel and combustion technologies become widely available.

In autumn and spring, large-scale crop residue burning in agricultural fields is a major source of smoke, smog, and particulate pollution. India is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, and a 2013 study found that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans. While India has implemented policies and programmes to address air pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme, the issue remains a significant challenge with detrimental impacts on public health and the economy.

The economic impact of air pollution

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, with all of its 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant. This has a significant impact on the health of the population, with 1.67 million deaths attributable to air pollution in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of total deaths in the country. The economic cost of this is high, with lost output from premature deaths and morbidity due to air pollution resulting in significant economic losses.

The economic burden of air pollution varies across India's states, with a three-fold variation in the economic loss as a percentage of state GDP in 2019. This is due to differences in exposure to ambient PM2.5 and the use of solid fuels, with northern states experiencing very high concentrations of pollution. The economic impact of air pollution is also felt in terms of absolute per-capita economic loss, with a five-fold variation across states in 2019.

The high economic cost of air pollution in India highlights the potential benefits of improving air quality. It is estimated that achieving safe air quality levels in 2019 would have increased India's GDP by $95 billion, or 3%. This would have resulted in lower costs and higher revenues for businesses, with a potential gain of $6 billion in higher revenues by reducing air pollution-related sick leaves. Furthermore, improving air quality could lead to 1.7 million fewer premature deaths, preventing 18% of all deaths in India, and resulting in economic benefits of $44 billion.

Overall, the economic impact of air pollution in India is significant, with losses in terms of both absolute figures and as a percentage of state GDP. Reducing air pollution is crucial not only for improving public health but also for boosting the economy and business sector, highlighting the importance of implementing effective strategies to address this issue.

Government initiatives to combat air pollution

India is the world's second most polluted country, with 100% of its population exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most dangerous type of air pollutant. Air pollution in India causes about 1.67 million deaths and an estimated loss of US$28.8 billion worth of output. It is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and individuals.

The Government of India has launched several initiatives to combat air pollution, including:

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

In 2019, India launched the National Clean Air Programme with the tentative national target of reducing PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20%-30% by 2024, considering 2017 as the base year for comparison. The programme focuses on 102 cities that are not meeting India's national annual PM5 standard, termed "non-attainment cities." In 2022, the government announced a revamped target, setting no national goal but increasing the ambition at the city level. The new goal aims for a 40% reduction relative to 2017 levels for 131 non-attainment cities by 2025-2026.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna is a government initiative to improve access to clean energy options like LPG at the household level, especially for marginalized sections of society. This programme aims to reduce indoor air pollution caused by the use of solid fuels and inefficient cooking stoves.

Emphasis on Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles

The Indian government has placed a strong emphasis on expanding renewable energy sources and promoting the use of electric vehicles. This includes supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households and encouraging the adoption of cleaner fuel standards.

Air Quality Monitoring and Management

The government has implemented air quality monitoring systems to track pollution levels and inform policy decisions. Additionally, India has been working on improving air quality management through standardized tools and data sets, as well as collaboration between states to meet WHO Air Quality Interim Targets cost-effectively.

The India Lighthouse Initiative

As part of this initiative, experts from India and around the world exchange experiences and knowledge to develop India-specific practices using state-of-the-art tools to understand, manage, and control air pollution effectively.

The Great Green Wall of Aravalli

The government has also proposed the creation of The Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometre-long and 5-kilometre-wide ecological corridor along the Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi. This initiative includes planting 1.35 billion new native trees over 10 years to combat pollution and improve air quality.

GRAP (Stage I)

GRAP includes measures such as dust mitigation at construction sites, effective waste management, and regular road cleaning. One notable initiative within GRAP is the use of bio-decomposers to combat stubble burning, a significant contributor to winter pollution.

Air pollution in rural India

India is the world's second most polluted country, with 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations. A 2016 study found that at least 140 million people in India breathe air that is 10 times or more over the World Health Organization's (WHO) safe limit.

While air pollution in India is generally perceived as a problem of the cities, it is a transboundary issue that transcends rural and urban boundaries. In fact, a significant portion of the rural population in India still depends on solid fuels, with approximately 76% of households relying on solid biomass for cooking. The burning of biomass and firewood is the primary reason for the near-permanent haze and smoke observed above rural and urban India. The smoke released from biomass fuels is many times more reactive than cleaner fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas.

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched by the Indian government in 2016, aims to provide clean cooking fuel, specifically liquefied petroleum gas, to women in disadvantaged households to reduce household air pollution generated by burning solid fuels. This initiative has contributed to stronger reductions in PM2.5 levels in rural areas compared to urban areas.

In addition to household sources, industrial emissions also contribute to air pollution in rural areas. Many heavy industries now operate beyond city limits, and the local rural population is exposed to toxic air and effluent discharge due to weak oversight. Power plants, some of which are located in rural areas, have also been found to be non-compliant with environmental standards.

Another source of air pollution in rural India is agriculture. The open burning of agricultural residue in rural areas contributes about seven percent to the total PM2.5 emissions. Large-scale crop residue burning in agriculture fields during autumn and spring is a major source of smoke, smog, and particulate pollution. The use of traditional brick kilns and hot mix plants, which are more polluting than newer technologies, also contributes to air pollution in rural areas.

Frequently asked questions