ForumIAS LATEST
- SFG FRC 2027 | Program starts from 19th Dec. 2026 | Admissions open for Entrance Test Click Here to know more →
- Prelims Test Series (PTS) for Prelims 2027 starts 11th Oct. 2026 Click Here to know more →
- [Pre-order] Ethics Redbook 3rd Edition: Delivery starts from 10th October onwards Click Here to Read More →
- 21 Sept. | GS Advance Program (GSAP) for UPSC 2027 Mains starts from 11th Oct. Click Here to Read More →
Source: This post “Air Quality Index” is based on the article”Delhi AQI ‘severe’ for second day; Mumbai’s air quality persists in ‘moderate’ category“published in “The Indian Express” on 3rd Novermber 2023.
Why in the news?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in New Delhi persisted in the ‘severe’ category, registering at 466, according to the data published by the Central Pollution Control Board.
What is AQI?
| Specification | Details |
| Aim | Measures how safe the air around you is for breathing. |
| Who’s given National Air Quality Index | Launched by Central Pollution Control Board in 2014. |
| Measuring criteria | (1)24 hours average data. Its unit is micrograms per cubic meter. (2)Each pollutants quantity in the air is adjusted to a common scale(say, 0 to 500) that works for all pollutants. |
| NAAQ standards | (1)Central pollution control board is empowered to set standards for air under Air(Prevention and control of pollution). (2)The current National ambient air quality standards were notified by CPCB in 2009. (3)India had set air quality standards in 1994, and this later revised in 1998 |
| Pollutants Covered | (1)Particulate matter (PM2.5) (2)Particulate matter10 (PM10) (3)Ozone (O3) (4)Carbon Monoxide (CO) (5)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) (6)Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) (7)Lead (Pb) (8)Ammonia (NH3) |
| Number of categories | Six- Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe. |
Upsc syllabus- Environment(Pollution)
