Clean air needs targets, timelines and accountability

Source: The post “Clean air needs targets, timelines and accountability” has been created based on “Clean air needs targets, timelines and accountability” published in “Indian Express” on 28th September 2026.

UPSC Syllabus: GS 3- Environment

Context: Air pollution threatens public health and economic productivity in India. Despite initiatives like NCAP and GRAP, air quality remains poor in several cities. Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan focuses mainly on administrative activities, while actual pollution reduction accounts for only 2.5% of a city’s score. In this context, it is important that India must move beyond fragmented measures and focus on clear targets, fixed timelines, interdepartmental coordination and accountability.

Key Issues in India’s Clean-Air Policy

1. Focus on administrative activities: The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan rankings assess activities such as road sweeping, waste management, sidewalk paving and action-plan preparation. Actual reductions in particulate matter account for only 2.5 per cent of a city’s total score.
2. Limited improvement in air quality: Lucknow’s annual average PM10 level has declined from 253 micrograms per cubic metre in 2017–18 to around 135, but it remains more than twice the national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
3. Ineffective pollution-control measures: Delhi has shown no appreciable improvement in winter air quality over the last four years, despite pollution-control measures and activities under the Graded Response Action Plan.
4. High economic and health costs: According to an assessment by UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, South Asia loses the equivalent of 10 per cent of its regional GDP annually due to reduced productivity and healthcare costs associated with air pollution.
5. Fragmented institutional responsibilities: Transport, electricity generation, industry, waste management, agriculture and household cooking contribute to air pollution. Their management by different ministries and agencies creates coordination problems and weakens accountability.
6. Economic losses due to delays: If Delhi and the NCR meet national air quality standards on schedule from 2026, their cumulative PM2.5 exposure burden could decline by 20 per cent by 2040. An eight-year delay would halve this reduction.

Measures to Improve Clean-Air Policy

1. Set clear targets and timelines: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) should establish measurable pollution-reduction targets and fixed deadlines for every responsible agency.
2. Measure actual outcomes: The government should assess clean-air programmes based on reductions in pollution exposure and the speed at which people receive relief, rather than administrative activities alone.
3. Fix institutional accountability: The government should clearly define the responsibilities of ministries, departments and urban agencies and take action when deadlines are missed.
4. Link funding with performance: Central grants and Finance Commission transfers should reward cities that achieve sustained reductions in pollution exposure.
5. Strengthen interdepartmental coordination: Clean-air planning should integrate transport, energy, industry, agriculture and waste management policies rather than treating air pollution solely as an environmental issue.
6. Improve economic efficiency: Investment in climate and clean-air measures should be prioritised because the assessment estimates that every rupee invested in a package of 25 such measures could generate ₹21 in economic and health benefits.
7. Reform NCAP 2.0: The government should focus on timely implementation, measurable outcomes and consequences for agencies that fail to meet their targets.

Conclusion: India needs to move from administrative compliance to measurable improvements in air quality. Clear targets, time-bound implementation, coordinated governance and performance-linked funding can reduce pollution, protect public health and prevent avoidable economic losses.

Question: India’s clean-air policy needs clear targets, fixed timelines and accountability rather than merely administrative measures.” Discuss the challenges in achieving clean air and suggest measures to improve the effectiveness of India’s clean-air policy.

Source: Indian Express