Air pollution is a major environmental concern in India. India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, posing a significant threat to the country's health and economy. Almost all of India's 1.4 billion people are exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most dangerous pollutant, from a variety of sources. Some parts of India fare far worse than others, with air pollution reducing life expectancy by more than ten years in Delhi and its surrounding areas. This article will explain to you Air Pollution in India which will help prepare the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Sources of Air Pollution

Source of Air Pollution

Dust and Construction

• Construction activities such as land clearing, diesel engine operation, demolition, burning, and working with toxic materials all contribute to air pollution.
• Construction and demolition activities contribute to windblown dust problems on nearby roadways, which can remain in the air for days or even weeks.
• The diesel engine exhausts of diesel generators, vehicles, and heavy equipment are a major source of PM 2.5 on construction sites.
• Oils, glues, thinners, paints, treated woods, plastics, cleaners, and other hazardous chemicals commonly used on construction sites contribute to air pollution.

Transportation

• The use of private vehicles is the primary source of urban air pollution (particularly older, diesel models).
• Vehicles account for roughly one-quarter of all particulate matter in the atmosphere.
• Traffic congestion is caused by a variety of factors, including an increase in the number of vehicles per kilometre of available road, a lack of intra-city divided-lane highways and intra-city expressway networks, a lack of inter-city expressways, traffic accidents, and chaos caused by poor traffic law enforcement.
• Congestion reduces the average speed of traffic. Scientific studies show that at low speeds, vehicles burn fuel inefficiently and pollute more per trip.

Use of Fossil Fuels at Home

• Half of the world's population still cooks and heats with solid fuels.
• These fuels, which include wood, charcoal, and coal, are burned in inefficient stoves, which emit large amounts of health-harming particulate matter and climate-warming pollutants into the surrounding environment.
• Furthermore, it is estimated that 1.2 billion people use kerosene lamps in their homes, contributing to air pollution and increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• The primary cause of the near-permanent haze and smoke seen above rural and urban India, as well as in satellite images of the country, is the burning of fuel wood and biomass.
• For cooking and general heating, fuelwood and biomass cakes are used.
• In some parts of India, these are burned in cook stoves known as chullah or chulha pieces.
• Over 100 million Indian households have these cookstoves, which are used two to three times per day.
• According to some reports, including one from the World Health Organisation, 300,000 to 400,000 people die in India as a result of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by biomass burning and the use of chulhas.

Generation of Electricity

• As the population grows, so does the energy demand.
• To meet that demand, fossil fuels are being used extensively to generate energy because they are cheap and readily available.
• Coal-fired power plants are a significant source of urban air pollution.

Agriculture and Combustion

• Material combustion is an activity that emits toxic gases into the atmosphere and contributes to urban air pollution.
• Incomplete combustion emits CO2 and complete combustion emits CO. These two gases contribute to urban air pollution.
• Agriculture also emits other gases into the atmosphere, such as NO2 and methane (CH4).

Exploding Fireworks

• Despite the cracker ban, firecrackers were everywhere during Diwali.
• It may not be the primary cause of air pollution, but it certainly contributes to its accumulation.
• The court's decision prohibited the sale and manufacture of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR and regulated their use throughout the country.
• Fireworks containing barium were specifically prohibited.
• The sale of firecrackers online is now completely prohibited.
• The decision came in response to a petition seeking a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers in order to reduce air pollution.

Effects of Air Pollution

Weather and Climate Effects

• The climate of our planet is being altered by air pollution.
• Some type of air pollution accelerates global warming.
• Others slow global warming by producing a temporary cooling effect for a few days or weeks.
• Increased global temperatures, rising sea levels due to melting ice from colder places and icebergs, relocation, and habitat loss have already foreshadowed an oncoming crisis if preservation and normalisation measures are not done quickly.

Ozone Depletion

• Ozone is found in the Earth's stratosphere and shields humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• The presence of chlorofluorocarbons and hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere depletes the Earth's ozone layer.
• Chlorofluorocarbons attacked and destroyed the ozone layer, causing dangerous ultraviolet light to pass through.
• As the ozone layer depletes, harmful rays are emitted back into the atmosphere, potentially causing skin and eye problems. UV rays can also be harmful to crops.

Greenhouse Gas Effect

• Greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution.
• By trapping solar heat in the Earth's atmosphere, greenhouse gases contribute to global warming.
• Some air pollutants help to slow global warming.

Smog

• Summer smog and winter smog are two common types of smog.
• Summer smog is primarily caused by ozone photochemical formation.
• During the summer, when temperatures are higher and there is more sunlight, photochemical smog is the most common type of smog formation.
• Winter smog occurs when temperatures drop, atmospheric inversions are common, and the use of coal and other fossil fuels to heat homes and buildings increases.

Photochemical Smog

• It is a type of air pollution caused by emissions from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes.
• Secondary pollutants are formed when these pollutants react with sunlight in the atmosphere, and they combine with primary emissions to form photochemical smog.
• In cities such as Delhi, smog is frequently exacerbated by stubble burning in nearby agricultural areas.

Impact on Agriculture/Vegetation

• High pollution levels change the microstructure of clouds as well as their shape, size, and depth.
• Pollutants settle on crops and fruits, causing the pollutants to leach into the fruits.
• The photosynthesis process is slowed.
• Sulphur dioxide causes chlorosis, plasmolysis, membrane damage, and metabolic inhibition.
• Premature leaf fall, fruit drop, floral bud shedding, petals curling, and sepal discoloration are all caused by hydrocarbons like ethylene.
• Ozone degrades chlorenchyma, destroying the foliage of many plants.

Acid Rain

• Acid rain occurs when rain falls through polluted air and picks up some of the pollution, causing it to become more acidic.
• Rain becomes a weak acid due to air pollution. When pollutants like NOx and SOx combine with rainfall, they produce acidic rain with a PH less than 4.0.
• Acid rain gradually acidifies the entire body of water when it accumulates in lakes or rivers.
• Fish can only thrive in neutral or slightly acidic water (typically with a pH of 6.5–7.0).
• Fish begin to die as soon as the acidity falls below about pH 6.0, and all fish die if the pH falls to about 4.0 or less.
• It also destroys forests, reduces soil fertility, and causes structural damage by eating away stonework.

Effect on Wildlife

• Air pollution also has a negative impact on animals.
• Toxic chemicals in the air can force wildlife species to relocate and change their habitat.
• Toxic pollutants settle on the water's surface and can harm sea creatures.

Effect on Health of Humans

• Air pollution's health effects may include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, asthma, and worsening of pre-existing respiratory and cardiac conditions.
• According to the World Health Organization, air pollution kills approximately 7 million people prematurely each year.
• Air pollution is also becoming a risk factor for stroke, especially in developing countries with the highest pollutant levels.
• According to the findings of a report released by IIT-Delhi in collaboration with the environmental NGO Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED), premature deaths are on the rise.

*For detailed notes of this topic, check this link Effects of Air Pollution

Delhi Air Pollution

• Delhi's landlocked geography also contributes to higher levels of air pollution when compared to other cities.
• There is a high reliance on fossil fuels, the combustion of which emits a large amount of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
• Large-scale construction activities increase dust pollution, which accounts for approximately 56% of the PM10 and PM2.5 load.
• Stubble burning also contributes to the region's air pollution. During the winter months, large-scale stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan creates a thick blanket of smog over the Delhi-NCR region.
• The lack of wind exacerbates the concentration of pollutants.
• Air pollution, which includes both indoor and outdoor pollution, is responsible for an estimated 2.5 million deaths each year.
• It is also estimated that the ambient air pollution in Delhi was equivalent to smoking more than five cigarettes per day for a year.
• In other words, if you spent an entire year breathing Delhi air, your health would have suffered in the same way that smoking 1,858 cigarettes would have.

Government Initiatives to Reduce Air Pollution

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, also known as the Air Act, was enacted by the Indian Parliament to prevent and control the harmful effects of air pollution in the country.
• This act is regarded as the government of India's first concrete step toward combating air pollution.
• Parliament passed the National Air Act in order to implement the decisions made at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972.
• The primary goals of this Act are to improve air quality and to prevent, control, and mitigate air pollution in the country.
• Section 2(a) defines an 'air pollutant' as any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance that has the potential to harm or damage the environment, humans, plants, animals, or even property.
• The term "noise" was added to the list of harmful substances in a 1987 amendment to the act.
• The presence of any dangerous pollutant that renders the air unbreathable is defined as "air pollution" under the Clean Air Act.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• To address the issue of air pollution on a national scale, the government established the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), with the goal of meeting average ambient air quality standards at all locations throughout the country.
• To have an effective and efficient network for monitoring ambient air quality.
• Public participation is encouraged in both the planning and implementation of government air pollution programmes and policies.
• To have an air pollution management plan in place for prevention, control, and abatement.
• Major Initiatives under NCAP include:
• Increasing the network of air quality monitoring stations.
• Manual monitoring stations: In addition to the current 691 stations, 1000 manual monitoring stations will be established in 303 cities.
• Stations for Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring: Recognizing the need to monitor critical pollutant concentrations in real time and at peak levels while avoiding time lag,
• Rural Monitoring System: Because rural areas have not been covered by the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), 50 such stations are proposed to be established under NCAP in rural areas.
• Air Quality Forecasting System (AQFS): AQFS is a cutting-edge modelling system that forecasts the air quality for the following day.
• Establishing an Air Information Centre - It will be in charge of data analysis, interpretation, and dissemination, including via a GIS platform.
• Three-tiered review mechanism for monitoring, assessment, and inspection of implementation: A three-tier system will consist of physical data collection and archiving in real time, data analytics infrastructure, and an action trigger system.

National Air Quality Index

• As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the National Air Quality Index, which tracks India's air quality index, was launched in New Delhi in September 2014.
• Governmental agencies are responsible for informing the public about health risks and how to avoid them.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has formed a committee of specialists composed of SPCBs, academics, medical professionals, and air quality experts.
• In 2014, IIT Kanpur and the expert panel recommended that India implement an AQI programme.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• In 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests announced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
• These are institutionalised measures that will be implemented only if the air quality in the Delhi NCR exceeds a certain threshold.
• It should only be used in emergency situations.
• The measures would be taken to keep PM10 and PM2.5 levels from exceeding the 'moderate' category on the national Air Quality Index (AQI).
• GRAP outlines a series of actions to be taken based on air quality.
• One of the measures in the severe category includes the closure of schools.

Polluter Pays Principle

• It is widely accepted that those who cause pollution should bear the costs of preventing harm to human health or the environment.
• A factory, for example, that produces a potentially poisonous substance as a byproduct of its operations is usually held liable for its safe disposal.
• It is part of the Rio Declaration of 1992, which provides broader principles to guide global sustainable development.

Air Quality Management Commission

• During the Monsoon Session, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) intends to table the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 in Parliament.
• The Commission will be led by a full-time chairperson who has previously served as a Secretary to the Government of India or as a Chief Secretary to a State government.
• The chairperson will serve for three years or until he or she reaches the age of 70.
• It will include representatives from various Ministries as well as stakeholder states.
• Experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and civil society will be present.
• Its functions include:
• Coordination of actions taken by concerned state governments (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh).
• Planning and carrying out strategies to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR.
• Creating a framework for identifying air pollutants.
• Networking with technical institutions to conduct research and development.
• Training and the development of a specialised workforce to address air pollution issues.
• Various action plans are being developed, such as increasing plantations and addressing stubble burning.

SAFAR

• The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to assess metropolitan city air quality by measuring overall pollution levels as well as location-specific air quality.
• The system was developed in-house by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and is managed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• It has a massive true colour LED display that provides a real-time air quality index with colour coding 24 hours a day, seven days a week (along with 72 hours advance forecast).
• The project's ultimate goal is to raise public awareness about air quality in their city so that appropriate mitigation measures and systematic action can be implemented.
• It organises awareness campaigns by educating the public and it also assists policymakers in developing mitigation strategies while keeping the nation's economic development in mind.
• SAFAR is an essential component of India's first operational Air Quality Early Warning System in Delhi.
• The SAFAR system would benefit sectors such as agriculture, aviation, infrastructure, disaster management, tourism, and others that are directly or indirectly affected by air quality and weather.

Dashboard for Monitoring Air Quality

• It is a dashboard based on the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) that uses data from the Central Pollution Control Board's National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Network, which began in 1984-85 and covers 344 cities/towns in 28 states and 8 UTs.
• Each NAMP station collects approximately 104 observations per year on four pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM).
• Monitoring is carried out by state pollution control boards and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, with oversight provided by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
• The dashboard can assist in identifying the need for additional monitoring stations and addressing data gaps.
• At a time when the Central Government hopes to pass a new law to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region, it is critical to assess existing regulations as the first step toward effective crisis management.

Recommendations to Reduce Air Pollution

• Inclusion of modern pollution prevention in the country strategy frameworks of multilateral development institutions.
• Using available GBD (Global Burden of Disease) data, there is a need to encourage the use of the health dimension as a key driver in policy and investment decisions.
• A massive shift to wind and solar energy will reduce ambient air pollution while also slowing climate change.
• To support HPAP (Health and Pollution Action Plan) prioritisation processes, monitoring, and programme implementation, private and government donors must allocate funding for pollution management.
• Pollution control must be integrated into all sectors' plans to address other critical threats such as climate, biodiversity, food, and agriculture.
• International organisations must establish a pollution SPI (Science Policy Interface) similar to those for climate and biodiversity, starting with chemicals, waste, and air pollution.
• For the SDGs to accurately represent the impact of chemical pollution, including heavy metals, international organisations must revise pollution tracking.
• International organisations and national governments must invest in data collection and analysis to support evidence-based interventions addressing environmental health risks.

Conclusion

Air pollution is still one of the most serious threats to India's environment and a major impediment to economic development. The central government declared a "war on pollution" and launched the National Clean Air Programme in 2019. (NCAP). The Program's goal is to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% compared to 2017 levels by 2024. Though the NCAP's goals are nonbinding, achieving and maintaining this reduction would result in remarkable health improvements: a nationwide reduction of 25%, the NCAP's midpoint, would increase India's national life expectancy by 1.8 years, and by 3.5 years for Delhi residents.

FAQs

Question. What is air pollution?

Question. What are the major sources of air pollution in India?

Question. How does air pollution affect human health in India?

Question. Which cities in India have the worst air pollution?

Question. What measures has the Indian government taken to tackle air pollution?

MCQs

1. What is the major contributor to air pollution in Indian cities?

A) Agricultural activities

B) Vehicular emissions

C) Forest fires

D) Water pollution

2. Which of the following pollutants is most commonly found in the air due to crop residue burning in India?

A) Carbon dioxide

B) Nitrogen oxides

C) Particulate matter (PM2.5)

D) Sulfur dioxide

3. What health condition is most commonly linked to air pollution in India?

A) Malaria

B) Asthma and respiratory diseases

C) Tuberculosis

D) Hepatitis

4. Which of the following is a key initiative introduced by the Indian government to address air pollution?

A) Green India Mission

B) National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

C) Make in India

D) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

5. What is the impact of air pollution on India's agricultural sector?

A) Increased crop yield

B) No impact

C) Decreased crop yield due to air quality deterioration

D) Improved water retention in soil

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Analyze the major causes of air pollution in India and their impacts on the environment and human health.

Answer: Air pollution in India is caused by a combination of industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, crop residue burning, and the use of traditional fuels for cooking. In urban areas, vehicular emissions are the largest contributor to poor air quality. Industrial activities also release a large amount of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. In rural areas, the burning of crop residues and the use of biomass for cooking exacerbates air pollution. The impact of air pollution on the environment includes damage to ecosystems, acid rain, and reduced visibility, while on human health, it leads to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and increased mortality rates.

Q2. Evaluate the effectiveness of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in combating air pollution in India.

Answer: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched by the Indian government in 2019, aims to reduce air pollution levels by 20-30% by 2024. It focuses on 102 non-attainment cities, where air quality levels exceed the prescribed limits. The NCAP’s approach includes increasing public awareness, improving air quality monitoring, promoting green technologies, and enhancing pollution control measures. While it is a step in the right direction, challenges such as inadequate enforcement, limited funding, and the need for stronger policy coordination remain. The NCAP's success will depend on its implementation at the grassroots level and its integration with local environmental policies.

Q3. How can India balance economic development with reducing air pollution?

Answer: India faces the dual challenge of promoting rapid economic development while addressing the growing problem of air pollution. To strike a balance, India can implement green technologies in industrial and transportation sectors, promote clean energy sources, and improve waste management. Transitioning to cleaner fuels, encouraging electric vehicles, and enforcing stricter emission standards for industries are essential measures. Additionally, promoting sustainable urban planning and investing in public transportation can reduce pollution levels. Effective implementation of these measures, along with a shift towards sustainable development practices, will help reduce air pollution while continuing to drive economic growth.

Previous Year Questions on Air Pollution

1. UPSC CSE 2023

Question: "Discuss the major health impacts of air pollution in India and the measures needed to mitigate its effects."

Answer: Air pollution in India has severe health implications, including respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer, along with cardiovascular diseases. Children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions are particularly vulnerable. Measures to mitigate its effects include enforcing stricter emission standards, transitioning to cleaner fuels, promoting public awareness, and implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) effectively.

2. UPSC CSE 2022

Question: "Assess the role of government policies in controlling air pollution in India."

Answer: The government has taken several steps to control air pollution in India, such as introducing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), improving air quality monitoring, and setting stricter emission norms. However, challenges remain in enforcement, public participation, and financial resources. To effectively address air pollution, India must strengthen its regulatory framework, invest in sustainable technologies, and ensure that local governments implement air quality improvement strategies.