India's National Clean Air Programme Achieves Significant PM10 Reductions
India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019 across 130 cities, has demonstrated measurable progress in reducing air pollution. During FY 2025-26, 108 cities recorded lower PM10 levels compared to 2017-18 baseline measurements. Among these, 72 cities achieved reductions above 20%, while 26 cities recorded reductions above 40%, and 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Financial Allocation and Utilization
The program has received substantial funding with ₹16,423.55 crore provided to 130 cities during FY 2019-20 to FY 2025-26 through air-quality performance-linked grants. Cities have reported utilization of ₹11,575.54 crore (70.5%) of these funds for implementing pollution mitigation measures. The program represents a multi-sectoral initiative involving coordinated efforts between Central and State Governments, Urban Local Bodies, and other stakeholders.
Monitoring Infrastructure and Digital Tracking
India's ambient air-quality monitoring network has expanded significantly, comprising 1,646 stations across 603 cities in 28 States and 7 UTs as of March 2026. This includes both manual stations and real-time Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (CAAQMS). The SAMEER mobile application and web portal provide near real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) information for more than 292 cities, enhancing transparency and citizen awareness.
The PRANA portal serves as the digital platform for regulating and monitoring NCAP implementation, tracking both physical and financial status of city action plans. Public Grievance Redressal Portals have been established in all NCAP cities to enable public participation in pollution control efforts.
Sector-Specific Mitigation Measures
Vehicular Emissions Control
Multiple initiatives target transportation pollution, including the introduction of BS VI compliant vehicles nationwide since April 2020, promotion of electric vehicles through various schemes, and establishment of charging infrastructure. In Delhi-NCR, specific directions mandate migration of public transport services to cleaner modes, with only BS-VI/CNG/EV public transport buses permitted to enter Delhi from November 1, 2026.
Industrial Emission Reduction
The Central Pollution Control Board has classified 419 industrial sectors based on pollution potential (125 Red, 137 Orange, 94 Green, 54 White, and 9 Blue categories). Stricter particulate matter emission norms of 50 mg/Nm³ will become applicable from October 1, 2026, for polluting and large industries. Seventeen highly polluting industry categories are required to install Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
Construction and Road Dust Management
Construction and road dust contributes 40-50% of PM10 in most cities according to Source Apportionment studies. Measures include guidelines for Construction and Demolition waste management, deployment of anti-smog guns at large construction sites, and establishment of 70 Dust Control and Management Cells across NCR. An online monitoring mechanism tracks compliance of dust mitigation measures for construction sites above 500sqm plot area in Delhi NCR.
Agricultural Residue Management
Significant progress has been made in reducing crop residue burning, with instances reduced by 93% in Punjab and 91% in Haryana in 2025 compared to 2021. The Ministry of Agriculture provided ₹4,233.84 crore for crop residue management initiatives during 2018-19 to 2025-26, distributing over 3.53 lakh crop residue management machines and establishing more than 43,535 Custom Hiring Centres.
Institutional Framework
The program is supported by a robust institutional structure including the Central Pollution Control Board, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for NCR, and State Pollution Control Boards. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) provides an emergency response framework with four stages triggered based on AQI levels from 'Poor' (AQI 201-300) to 'Severe+' (AQI above 450).
Additional Environmental Initiatives
Afforestation efforts include the Green India Mission with ₹1,019.26 crore released to States as of March 2026, compensatory afforestation of over 3.20 lakh hectares between FY 2020-21 and 2024-25, and the Nagar Van Yojana which has developed 626 Nagar Vans/Vatikas with ₹557.62 crore released. The Aravalli Green Wall initiative restored 36,025 hectares during 2025, and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign planted 262.4 crore saplings by December 2025.