National Clean Air Programme Industrial Compliance and Air Quality Results
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provided a status update on the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) through a parliamentary reply. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared for 130 cities under NCAP, targeting major air pollution sources including soil and road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, construction and demolition activities, and greening initiatives.
State Action Plans under NCAP address industrial pollution through policies promoting the use of approved fuels by industries, clean technologies, and the development of city gas distribution networks to encourage cleaner fuels. The program facilitates switching from conventional fuels to cleaner gaseous fuels including CNG, PNG, and CBG by industrial and commercial units.
Industrial pollution control actions are implemented by industries themselves, while monitoring and enforcement of emission and discharge norms are carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees through consent mechanisms under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
According to reports submitted by Urban Local Bodies, 11,108 industries located in NCAP cities have transitioned to cleaner fuels including natural gas, PNG/LNG, LPG, and biogas. Under NCAP, air quality performance linked grants totaling ₹16,423.55 crore have been provided to 130 cities during fiscal years 2019-20 through 2025-26. This funding was allocated through the XVth Finance Commission Million-Plus Cities Challenge Fund for 48 million-plus cities and the Central Sector Scheme 'Control of Pollution' of the Ministry for 82 non-attainment cities. Cities have reported utilization of ₹11,575.54 crore (70.5%) on the PRANA portal.
Implementation is monitored through District/City level Implementation and Monitoring Committees chaired by District Collectors/Municipal Commissioners, which periodically review the execution of city clean air action plans. Additionally, State level Steering Committees chaired by Chief Secretaries and Air Quality Monitoring Committees chaired by Additional Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of Environment Departments periodically review and monitor progress of both city action plans and State Action Plans.
The focused actions under NCAP have demonstrated positive outcomes. During 2025-26, 108 cities recorded reductions in annual PM10 concentrations compared to 2017-18 baseline levels, with 72 cities achieving reductions exceeding 20% and 26 cities achieving reductions exceeding 40%. Furthermore, 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in FY 2025-26, compared to only six cities in 2017-18. During calendar year 2025, 73 cities recorded reductions in annual PM2.5 concentrations compared to calendar year 2024, with 17 cities achieving reductions of more than 20%.