Brian Barton
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 17 of the world's 30 most polluted cities located in the country. India's capital, New Delhi, is the most polluted capital city globally, with particulate matter concentrations nearly ten times higher than World Health Organization guidelines. The country's air pollution is caused by industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, thermal power plants, burning of crop residue, and the burning of wood and dirty fuels for cooking and heating. Water bodies such as lakes and rivers are polluted by urban sewage discharge, industrial effluents, and pesticides and fertilizers from farms, leading to water toxicity and the loss of aquatic ecosystems. Soil health is impacted by certain agricultural practices and landfills, and noise pollution is also an issue in urban areas. India's pollution has severe health impacts, contributing to the premature deaths of about 1.67 million people in 2019, with economic losses of $36.8 billion in the same year. The government has implemented initiatives to address pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution, and the TRUE initiative, which found that motor vehicles emit far more pollutants in real-world conditions than in lab tests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of polluted cities in the world | 30 |
| India's rank among them | 1st |
| India's rank in terms of per capita emissions of greenhouse gases | 3rd |
| India's rank in terms of total emissions of greenhouse gases | 3rd |
| Number of Indian cities among the 30 most polluted cities in the world | 17 |
| Number of Indian cities among the 20 most polluted cities in the world | 13-14 |
| India's population exposed to unhealthy levels of PM 2.5 | 1.4 billion |
| Number of cities in India with "poor", "very poor", or "severe" air quality | 60+ |
| India's rank in terms of premature mortality due to ambient PM 2.5 exposure between 2000 and 2015 | 1st |
| Number of deaths in India due to worsening air pollution in 2019 | 1.67 million |
| Number of deaths in India due to indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by biomass burning and use of chulhas | 300,000-400,000 |
| India's GDP increase if it had achieved safe air quality levels in 2019 | $95 billion |
| India's economic losses due to air pollution in 2019 | $28.8 billion-$36.8 billion |
| Number of manual monitoring stations in India as of 2019 | 750+ |
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What You'll Learn
India's air pollution
India has one of the most polluted atmospheres in the world, with 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world located in India in 2019. The country's rapid urbanization and population density have led to an increase in the use of automobiles and industrial activity, both of which contribute to high levels of air pollution.
A study based on 2016 data revealed that at least 140 million Indians breathe air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit. The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, and thermal power plant emissions. In addition, India's dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating also play a significant role in air pollution. Furthermore, the country's per capita emissions of greenhouse gases are low, but India is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases globally, after China and the United States.
The impact of air pollution on health is devastating, with air pollution contributing to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year. The State of Global Air 2024 report estimates that more than 2 million deaths per year in India are caused by air pollution. The main causes of death include respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease. In addition to the health impacts, air pollution also has economic consequences. A study found that in 2019, India lost an estimated US$28.8 billion worth of output due to worsening air pollution.
To address the issue of air pollution, the Indian government has taken several steps. In 2019, the government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), with a tentative national target of a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024. The NCAP provides an overall framework for cities to develop air quality management plans and has allocated approximately $1.7 billion to fight air pollution over five years for 42 Indian cities with million-plus populations. The government has also updated its emission regulation guidelines by introducing the Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emissions standards in 2020, which mandate the use of low-sulfur fuel and the installation of filters and catalytic converters in vehicles. In addition, the country's vehicle scrappage policy was implemented in April 2022 to remove older, more polluting vehicles from the roads.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain in the implementation of these regulations. For example, providing BS-VI fuel at gas stations can be difficult. However, India is taking significant steps to respond to the problem, including expanding renewable energy, promoting electric vehicles, and supplying LPG cooking fuel to millions of households.
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Water pollution
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has identified that more than half of India's 605 rivers are polluted. These include major rivers such as the Ganga, which receives wastewater from 746 industries, and the Markanda, Kali, Amlakhadi, Yamuna, and Betwa rivers, which have high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), a measure of organic pollution. The CPCB has established a National Water Quality Monitoring Network with 1,429 monitoring stations across 28 states and 6 Union Territories to routinely analyse water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, bacteriological content, and trace metals.
Untreated sewage is the predominant cause of water pollution in India. Major cities produce approximately 38,354 million litres of sewage per day, far exceeding the urban sewage treatment capacity of 11,786 million litres. This results in the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers and other water bodies, leading to severe organic and bacterial contamination. Pesticides, heavy metals, and agrochemicals like DDT and HCH, which are potential carcinogens and mutagens, are also present in the water, further degrading water quality.
Agricultural runoff and unregulated small-scale industries contribute to water pollution as well. Flooding during the monsoons exacerbates the problem by washing solid waste and contaminated soils into rivers and wetlands. The lack of proper waste management and segregation practices in India has led to towering landfills, with untreated waste leaking into aquatic environments.
The consequences of water pollution in India are dire, with health costs estimated at INR 470-610 billion ($6.7-8.7 billion) per year. Diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, and other water-related illnesses contribute to high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among children under five. Water pollution also impacts agricultural revenues and yields, further exacerbating the economic losses associated with environmental degradation, estimated at INR 3.75 trillion ($80 billion) annually.
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Soil pollution
India is facing a serious issue of soil degradation, which, if not addressed, could lead to disastrous consequences for the country's food security and economy. Soil degradation is caused by various factors, including erosion by wind and water, biological degradation, physical degradation, and chemical degradation.
One of the main causes of soil degradation in India is the overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, which has poisoned fields and crops, leading to a loss of natural nutrients in the soil and an increase in toxicity and contamination. In addition, the rapid industrial growth in India has also increased the threat to the environment, with industrial effluents and emissions contributing to soil pollution. The lack of enforcement of pollution laws in some states has exacerbated the problem, allowing industries to dump toxic waste into fields.
The degradation of soil in India has far-reaching implications for the country's agricultural economy, environment, food security, and public health. Despite this, soil pollution has largely been ignored at the national level due to a lack of comprehensive information on the subject. However, some researchers have conducted sporadic studies on various aspects of pollution affecting soil quality. For example, a study in Netranahalli, Karnataka, found that soil erosion could be reduced by improving groundwater levels, regenerating water, making changes in cropping and land use patterns, and involving local communities in soil conservation and management.
India's strong scientific culture has the potential to restore soil health, but it requires strong political will to implement effective policies. Soil health cards for farmers have been introduced by the government, but many farmers are unaware of this initiative. To secure India's food security and economic growth, urgent policy interventions, public involvement in mitigation, and a combination of technological, regulatory, and educational initiatives are needed to tackle the problem of soil degradation.
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Noise pollution
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. Noise pollution, a major environmental concern in India, is caused by vehicular traffic, industries, household instruments, and loudspeakers, among other sources.
In 2022, a report identified 13 noise-polluted cities in South Asia, five of which were in India. These cities recorded alarming levels of noise pollution, with Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh ranking as the second most noise-polluted city worldwide. The noise levels in Moradabad reached a maximum of 114 decibels, which is known to have harmful effects on human health and well-being, impacting sleep and causing permanent hearing damage.
The Indian legal system has addressed noise pollution through various legislations, including The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, The Industries Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Court cases, such as Dhanna Lal vs. Thakur Chittar Singh and the "Church Case," have also played a role in attempting to control noise pollution. Despite these measures, noise pollution complaints often go unaddressed, and there is a lack of awareness about noise regulations among citizens and authorities.
To curb noise pollution, control measures such as silencers in vehicles, improved technology in industries, the use of earplugs, and minimizing the use of loudspeakers during public events and religious functions have been proposed. Additionally, the growing of trees is suggested as a natural way to absorb sound and reduce noise levels.
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Government initiatives to reduce air pollution
India is taking urgent steps to combat air pollution, which has caused a major public health crisis in South Asia. The country has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and better air quality management is expected to accelerate its growth.
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to reduce air pollution, including the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024 and 40% by 2026. The NCAP tackles deteriorating air quality across 132 cities that fail to meet air pollution standards, promoting city-specific air quality management plans and encouraging collaboration across local and national jurisdictions.
In addition to the NCAP, India has also implemented the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes measures such as dust mitigation at construction sites, effective waste management, and regular road cleaning. Several cities have activated the GRAP in response to poor air quality.
The government has also supported the establishment of air quality monitoring systems and clean air guides at 20 locations in Indore, as part of the Building Healthy Cities Project. This community-led study, funded by USAID, trained local volunteers to maintain and read air sensor data, educate the community, and support advocacy efforts.
Furthermore, India has launched the National Air Quality Index in 2015, in partnership with IIT Kanpur. The country is also working on a Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo Gangetic Plains (IGP), which spans seven union territories and states. The World Bank program supports this initiative by connecting academic institutions and practitioners to carry out air quality management work.
Other initiatives include the TRUE Initiative, which revealed that motor vehicles emit far more pollutants in real-world settings compared to lab tests, and the India Lighthouse initiative, which brings together experts from India and around the world to develop India-specific practices to address air pollution.
The private sector is also playing a crucial role in combating air pollution, with the Confederation of Indian Industry's CEO Forum for Clean Air bringing together business leaders to catalyse cross-sector change.
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Frequently asked questions
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 17 of the world's 30 most polluted cities. In 2019, 1.67 million people died in India due to air pollution, accounting for an estimated loss of $28.8 billion.
The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, thermal power plants, crop burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating. India is also the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases.
Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year and causes health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A study in 2013 found that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans.
The Indian government has launched initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024, and the India CEO Forum for Clean Air, which galvanises the private sector to find solutions. Other efforts include updating emission regulation guidelines and implementing a vehicle scrappage policy.
Enforcement of pollution control regulations has been challenging, and there have been implementation challenges with new emission guidelines. Additionally, the use of personal vehicles remains high, and economic incentives are needed to encourage the use of clean fuel.
