Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005 ? What changes in India's National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards ?
The WHO's revised 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) drastically tightened the recommended safe limits for key air pollutants, based on new scientific evidence of their health impacts. The annual mean for PM2.5 was cut from 10 µg/m³ to 5 µg/m³, and for PM10, it was reduced from 20 to 15 µg/m³. Limits for other pollutants like NO₂ and O₃ were also made much stricter.
These new guidelines are significantly different from the 2005 update as they acknowledge that adverse health effects occur at much lower concentrations than previously thought.
To achieve these revised standards, India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) needs a radical overhaul. Its current goal of a 20-30% pollution reduction by 2024 is insufficient. Required changes include setting stricter, legally binding emission standards for industries and vehicles, rapidly scaling up public transport and e-mobility, and eliminating biomass burning.
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Important Questions from GS3
Examine the pattern and trend of public expenditure on social services in the post-reforms period in India. To what extent this has been in consonance with achieving the objective of inclusive growth?
What are the causes of persistent high food inflation in India? Comment on the effectiveness of the monetary policy of the RBI to control this type of inflation.
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What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization.
What were the factors responsible for the successful implementation of land reforms in some parts of the country? Elaborate.
