INDIA’S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE
AIR POLLUTION, JAPAN’S
COOPERATION AND
FUTURE DIRECTIONSCONTENT
1

Air pollution in India: An overview

2

Challenges faced by India

3

India’s approach to tackle air pollution

4

Milestones of India’s effort to control air pollution

5

National Clean Air Program (NCAP)

6

National Clean Air Program (NCAP): Targets and Achievements

7

Ongoing Government Initiatives

8

Sector-Wise Initiatives

9

Japan Cooperation on Air Pollution

10

Japan Cooperation on Air Pollution

AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW

01

Constitutional Mandate for Clean Environment:
India is committed to pollution-free air and water, as mandated
in the constitution

02

Implementation of Environmental Commitments:• Administrative measures and statutes to addressenvironmental conservation and SDGs
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,
enacted under Art. 253

03

Challenges of a Growing Economy:• India being the populous country, is putting every effort tosustainably meet its population needs• Accelerated industrial and infrastructural activities in thepast three decades contribute to challenges

04

Inherent Disadvantages:• The Indo-Gangetic plain is essentially landlocked, theHimalayas prevent polluted air from escaping to the northcreating the so called “valley effect” and dry alluvial soil
significantly contributes to wind-blown dust, compounds
the air pollution woes for the region

AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW

05

Rise in Air Pollution:• Vehicular, industrial and infrastructural growth leads tomanifold increases in air pollution, affecting towns and cities• Recent years show a surge in pollution, impacting nonattainment cities

06

Air Pollution Emission Sources:• Multiple sectors contribute to air pollution, including power,transport, industry, residential, construction, and agriculture• Fossil fuel combustion contributes to both air pollution andglobal climate change

07

Local Air Quality and Specific Pollutants:• As per the data gathered over the years under National Air
Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), PM10 and PM2.5
are the major pollutants exceeding their NAAQS limit• Other pollutants such as SOX, NOX, and ozone (O3) aremostly observed to be within their NAAQS limit

08

Health Concerns and Ambiguous Statistics:• Rise in air pollution is impacting public health• Perplexing international statistics correlating air pollution
with health impacts without the use of indigenous dose
response functions, further complicate public perception

CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIA
Challenges in Regional Air Quality Cooperation:
Inadequate information exchange hampers collaborative efforts

Public Indifference:
The lack of public interest in the emission control measures

Data Reliability Issues in Indian Cities:
Limited monitoring infrastructure leads to unreliable air quality data
Research Gap in Medium-Scale City Pollution:
Lack of research on pollution concentrations in expanding medium-scalecitiesTraffic Inefficiency:
Inefficient traffic management lead to congestions resulting in rise inpollutant concentration

INDIA’S APPROACH TO TACKLE AIR-POLLUTION
Legislation and
Policies

India implements laws like the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
and formulates policies like the National Clean Air Program (NCAP)

Collaborative
Governance

The government collaborates with Central Ministries, State Governments,and stakeholders to develop and implement air pollution control measures

Identification of
Polluted Cities

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identifies polluted cities basedon National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) violations

Data-Driven Action

Utilizing ambient air quality data, particularly for pollutants like PM10, PM2.5,
and NO2, informs targeted interventions in non-attainment cities

Global Engagement

India engages with global entities like the World Health Organization (WHO)to stay updated on air quality benchmarks and collaborate on solutions

Awareness andResponse

Regular updates on air quality, like WHO's Ambient Air Quality Database,raise public awareness, facilitating a more robust response to protect publichealthMilestones of India’s Effort to Control Air Pollution

CPCB entrusted with thepowers and functions under
the air (Prevention andcontrol of pollution)• 1981• 1994

MoEFCC prepared an
action plan for controlling
pollution in Delhi

Graded Response Action
Plan (GRAP) established toaddress air pollution
emergencies in NCR Delhi• 2009 • 2010
• 1997• 2016

National ambient air quality
standards were introduced.

National
ambient air
qualitystandards
were revisedand PM2.5
added to thelist

SourceApportionment
study carriedout in 6 cities.

The program envisages toachieve reductions up to
40% or achievement of
National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for PM 10
concentrations by 2025-26• 2019• 2026
NCAP - a time-bound national
level strategy to tackle
increasing air pollution, waslaunched by MoEFCC.
102 non-attainment cities wereannounced under NCAP , which
gradually increased to 131 nonattainment cities

NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAM (NCAP)
Acknowledging the transboundary impact of air pollution, NCAP was formulated with an aim to improve air quality in India.

PROCESS FOR FORMULATION OF NCAP

1.

The NCAP, formed collaboratively with Central Ministries, State Governments, andstakeholders, underwent online sharing, meetings, and amendments, gaining
unanimous approval in October 2018.

DEFINING NON-ATTAINMENT CITIES2.

CPCB identifies polluted cities based on National Ambient Air Quality Standards(NAAQS) violations. Non-attainment cities consistently violate NAAQS for PM10 or NO2
over 5 years.

NATIONAL CLEAN AIR ACTION PLAN

3.

A dynamic five-year initiative from 2019, scalable to 2025-2026, targeting 20-30%
reduction in PM10 and PM2.5, driven by collaborative, multi-sectoral strategies.

NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAM (NCAP): Targets and Achievements

Under NCAP, 82 cities were given the annual target of 3-15% reduction of PM10 levels in order to achieve
overall reduction of air quality up to 40% PM10 levels, and 49 cities (having population more than 1
DEFINING NON-ATTAINMENT CITIES

million, called million+ cities) under 15th Finance Commission air quality grant, were given an annual
CPCB identifies polluted cities based on National Ambient Air Quality Standards

target of 15% reduction in annual
PM10 concentrations
andviolate
improvementof10 15
numbersof(NAAQS)averageviolations. Non-attainment
cities consistently
NAAQS for PM
or NO
2over 5 years.

good air quality days (AQI<200)Target Achieved by "Other" NA-Cities

REDUCTION of PM10 in 131 NON-ATTAINMENT CITIES(FY:2019-20 to FY: 2021-22)

31
51

Struggling Cities

Good Performing Cities

49

71% CITIES SHOWED PROMISING RESULTS
82

Target achieved by “Million+” NA-Cities

6 3

Million+ Cities

Other cities

40
100% Target Achieved Cities
75% Target Achieved Cities
25% Target Achieved Cities

Source: PIB: National Clean Air programme (NCAP) to improve air quality in 131 cities by engaging all stakeholders(23 March 2023)

ONGOING GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

1.

NATIONAL AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM (2023):
931 operating manual stations in 398 cities/towns to monitor key pollutants—SO2, NO2, PM10, PM2.5.
Plus, 423 real time CAAQMS stations in 221 cities/towns cities track 8 pollutants, aiding air quality
determination, non-attainment city identification, and integrated meteorological monitoring.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS):
2.

• It sets outdoor air quality standards aiming to protect vegetation, health, and property. Annualcompliance requires 98% adherence, allowing a 2% chance of limit exceedance.
• MoEF&CC covers 84 sectors and mandates continuous monitoring in 17 highly polluting
industries.

NATIONAL AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI) (2015, expanded to 71 cities):
3.

• AQI simplifies air data for public understanding, categorizing in six levels based on eightpollutants.
• Overall AQI determined by the worst sub-index, emphasizing effective communication.

ONGOING GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

4.

FORTY-TWO ACTION POINTS: It addresses major cities, including Delhi and NCR. Covering
vehicular emissions, road dust, biomass/MSW burning, industrial pollution, C&D activities, andgeneral measures, initially for NCR and extended to non-attainment cities
Specific directions target 22 districts in NCR, focusing on road dust, garbage burning, traffic
management, and stubble burning.

ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION (PREVENTION AND CONTROL) AUTHORITY (EPCA) :5.

EPCA, formed in 1998 under the Environment Act, addresses NCR environmental pollution.
Initially comprised of specified members, reconstituted periodically with extended tenure andnew members.

GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN (GRAP):
6.

Government-notified GRAP for Delhi and NCR adopts graded measures and health advisories
based on AQI categories. It targets key pollution sources and acknowledges seasonalvariations, including stubble and biomass burning.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES

Sector-Wise Emission

Vehicular

Dust& Construction

Biomass burning

Source: NCAP REPORT (2019)

Industries

Other

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Vehicular Emissions
Vehicular Emissions
TARGET: Reduction of SO2

INITIATIVE 1
Bharat Stage-4 to Bharat Stage-6
Leapfrogging Emission Standards:
Transitioned from BS-IV to BS-VI norms for fuel andvehicles since April 2018 (NCT of Delhi) and April
2020 (rest of the country).

Impact
The fuel quality has improved significantly by
reducing the permissible Sulphur content from 50
ppm in BS-IV to maximum 10 ppm in BS-VI
compliant fuel.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Vehicular Emissions
Vehicular Emissions
TARGET: Reduction of PM, SO2,NO2
INITIATIVE 2
Vehicle Age Restrictions
Implemented a ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles
and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi NCR.

ImpactAn ecosystem to phase out older, unfit polluting
vehicles across the country, has been created.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Vehicular Emissions
Vehicular Emissions
TARGET: Reduction of PM, SO2, NO2

INITIATIVE 3
Cleaner/Alternate Fuels Adoption:
Introduced cleaner/alternate fuels like CNG, LPG,
and ethanol blending in petrol.

ImpactThe National Biofuel Policy aims for 20% ethanol
blending in petrol by 2025-26, saving over Rs. 22,600
Crore on crude oil imports in 2021-22.
Public sector OMCs has achieved 10% ethanol
blending.
The Government of Delhi implemented CNG or LPG(Autogas) fuel for all autos-rickshaw and for theentire bus fleet in and around the city.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Vehicular Emissions
Vehicular Emissions
TARGET: Electric Vehicles Promotion

INITIATIVE 4
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric
Vehicles (FAME)-2:
Launched in April 2019, it supports EV adoption witha Rs. 10,000 crore budget, providing subsidies for eBuses and various types of electric vehicles.

ImpactProduction linked incentive, Rs. 25,938 crores over 5
years, for the manufacturers of Advanced
Chemistry Cells reduces EV battery costs.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways exempts
battery vehicles from permits since October 18,
2018. Registration fees waived since August 2, 2021,
and All India Tourist Permit issued without fees sinceApril 18, 2023

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Vehicular Emissions
Vehicular Emissions
TARGET: Reduction of PMs, SO2, AND
NO2 concentration from Delhi
INITIATIVE 5
Peripheral Expressways Operation:
Operationalized Eastern and Western Peripheral
Expressways to divert non-destined traffic from
Delhi.

Impact
The Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), contributes
towards the twin objectives of decongesting andde-polluting the national capital by diverting traffic
not destined for Delhi.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Industrial Emissions
Industrial Emissions
Target: Reduction of Various Pollutants

INITIATIVES
1.

Statutory Directions mandate NCR's shift toapproved clean fuels, ending coal, diesel oil,
LDO, etc. Industries transition to approved fuelsby 30.09.2022 (gas infrastructure available) and31.12.2022 (no gas infrastructure).

2.

Regulations for Power Generating Sets:• DG sets allowed for emergency during
GRAP.
• DISCOMS ensure power supply, reducing
DG set use.
• Industrial DG sets regulated during GRAP,
with retrofitting ECD, dual fuel (gas/diesel).

3.

Strict emission norms for Coal-based Thermal
Power Plants (TPPs).

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Dust Emissions
Dust Emissions
TARGET: Reduction PM10 and PM2.5

INITIATIVES
1.
2.

3.

Statutory directions mandate road agencies toestablish 'Dust Control and Management Cells'(DCMCs).
Key actions include using sweeping machines,
scientific•dust disposal,•
water and dust suppressant application,•enhancing machines,•
road maintenance,•mechanized sweeping support,•
greening,•
addressing hot spots.
Sixty DCMCs established: Delhi (11), Uttar
Pradesh (18), Haryana (17), Rajasthan (14).

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Construction Emissions
Construction Emissions
Target: Reduction PM10 and PM2.5
INITIATIVES
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Statutory
directions
mandateproject
registration (≥500 sq mtr.) on the C&D web
portal.
Portals operate in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar
Pradesh, developing in Rajasthan. Selfcertification by proponents with crossverification.
Compliances include wind breakers, dust
screens, water sprinkling, dust suppressants, soil
stabilization at C&D sites.
Anti-smog
gun
deployment
basedonconstruction area.
Compliance for covering construction materials
and using covered vehicles for C&D materialtransportation.

SECTOR-WISE INITIATIVES - Biomass Emissions
Biomass Emissions
TARGET: Reduction PMs, NOX, SO2, CO,
FURAN, DIOXININITIATIVES
1. Intensified winter inspections, proper solid
waste collection, and disposal, clearance
after road cleaning.
2. Notification of 8 waste management rules,
infrastructure
setup,
andExtended
Producer Responsibility (EPR) for various
wastes.
3. Ban on biomass/garbage burning

JAPANINDIAJAPAN COOPERATION ON AIR POLLUTION: INTRODUCTION
Steep
Economic
GrowthSteep economic
growth increased
poor visibility anddust fall, impacting
people in large
towns.point ofview.

Post WWII

Rapid
industrialization in
Japan post-WorldWar II led tounchecked
pollution in the
1960s.

GlobalLeader Japan

Similarity

Similar pollution
challenges exist in
today's Indian cities
and population.

Japan, now a
global leader in
eco-friendly
technologies,
shares expertisewith India forsustainability.

Japan+India

Collaborations
between thegovernments
address
environmental
issues for a moresustainable future.

JAPAN - INDIA: BLUE SKY INITIATIVEBLUE SKY INITIATIVEThe Embassy of Japan in India launched 'Blue-Sky Initiatives' for India's air
pollution, fostering cooperation and implementing Japanesetechnologies.

THRUST AREAS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Waste-to-energy plant,
Solar irrigation,
Coal power environmental equipment,
Dust suppressants,
Next-gen vehicles,
And an intelligent transport system.

INITIATIVES TAKEN
Mitsubishi-Hitachi Power's Flue-gas Desulfurization for NTPC, 2009 PM2.5
study in Delhi-NCR (Horiba India), Ahmedabad ITS (Zero-sum), JICA
grant for Bengaluru.

JAPAN-INDIA TECHNOLOGY MATCHMAKING PLATFORM(JITMAP)JITMAP
Amid India's rapid urbanization and industrialization, industries seek cost-effective pollution reduction.
Japanese firms employ low carbon, renewable tech. JITMAP facilitates knowledge exchange.

THRUST AREAS
JITMAP facilitates engagement between Japanese and Indian stakeholders, promoting mutually beneficialtransactions in environmental and low carbon technologies, including energy-efficient and renewable
solutions.

INITIATIVES TAKEN
1. TERI and IGES facilitate LCT transfer from Japan since 2010, achieving substantial energy savings: 20%-40%(hard technologies) and 5%-10% (soft technologies).
2. MoU with APSEEDCO in Andhra Pradesh for energy-efficient tech promotion.
3. Notable technologies: Gas Heat Pump (GHP) - 50% energy saving, 49% CO2 reduction, Electric Heat Pump
(EHP) - 35% energy saving, 40% CO2 reduction.
4. TERI-IGES-SHAKTI Program drives environmental collaboration.

INDIA- JAPAN CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP (CEP)
CEP
1. India and Japan collaborate for secure energy supply, promoting sustainable economic growth, andaddressing climate change goals.
2. India targets net zero by 2070, Japan by 2050.
3. Aligned with the 2007 India-Japan Energy Dialogue, supporting India's Clean Energy Transition and Japan's Asia
Energy Transition Initiative.

THRUST AREAS•

Electric Vehicles (EV), batteries, EV charging infrastructure.

•

Energy conservation in buildings, industries, and efficient appliances.

•

Development of Solar Energy, including PV cells.

•

Clean and Green Hydrogen, Ammonia.

•

Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS), Recycling.

•

Clean Coal Technology.

•

Emerging fuels: Biofuels, CBG.

JAPAN, INDIA METEROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, AND UNDPIMD+JAPAN+UNDP
1. IMD, Government of Japan, and UNDP announce initiative for climate action.
2. Aims to accelerate climate-resilient development across 10 states/Union Territories.
3. IMD-UNDP collaboration supports NDCs for net-zero emissions and climate-resilient development.
4. Japan grants $5.16 million to UNDP India for the IMD-UNDP project

THRUST AREAS•

Deploy clean energy in key sectors: Transport, Health, MSMEs, Agriculture, solarizing facilities, EV stations, andsolar storage.

•

Demonstrate grassroots climate planning in 30 Gram Panchayats with climate information flow systems.

•

Focus on net-zero emissions, climate-resilient development, and advocate climate mitigation in Agriculture,
Health, Transport, MSMEs.

JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (JICA)
JICA
1. JICA is a Japanese agency promoting international cooperation, providing Official Development Assistance(ODA).
2. JICA supports Indian infrastructure projects through ODA, technical cooperation, and grants, fostering
sustainability and pollution reduction.

ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Contributes to India's railway sector, enhancing interstate travel speed with projects like Dedicated Freight
Corridor and Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail.
2. Promotes Intelligent Transport Systems in cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, improving travel speed and reducing
congestion.
3. Funds 39 solar PV, wind, and small hydro projects through IREDA, promoting renewable energy.
4. Supports solar power projects in Telangana under JICA's credit line to IREDA and IIFCL.
5. Provides a loan for the Ganga Action Plan in Varanasi.
6. Signs a Loan Agreement with Department of Economic Affair (DEA) for Japan-India Cooperation Actions on
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

JAPAN INDIA: OTHER COLLABORATIONSINDIA-JAPAN FUND (IJF)
1. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund collaborates with JBIC for $600 million India-Japan Fund (IJF),
focusing on environmental sustainability and low carbon emission strategies.
2. IJF actively invests in India's environmental preservation sector, including renewable energy, e-mobility,
circular economy.
3. GoI contributes 49%, JBIC 51% in the fund, a key milestone in the Japan-India strategic partnership.

INDIA-JAPAN ACT EAST FORUM (AEF)
1. Established in 2017.
2. AEF aligns India's Act East Policy with Japan's Indo-Pacific vision.
3. Aims for India-Japan collaboration in North-Eastern region's sustainable development.

4. Focus on connectivity, people-to-people ties, hydropower, forest management, and water infrastructure.

FUTURE APPROACH
6. Public Transport Promotion and Smart
Planning:
Motivate the adoption of efficient public
transport, emphasizing sustainable urban
and environmental planning for smart
cities.

5. Simultaneous Urbanization and
Pollution Mitigation:
Address
urbanization-alteredtemperatures
alongside
pollution
mitigation,
acknowledging
theinterlink between pollution and urban
meteorology.

6.

1. Regional Airshed Approach:
Develop strategies for controlling air
pollution, adopting a regional airshed
approach, e.g., in high-density areas
like the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

1.

5.

2.

4.

4. Integrated Cost-Effective Solutions:
Developcost-effective
solutionsthroughadvanced research, integrating them into
policy frameworks across sectors like transport,
health, and industry.

3.

2. Comprehensive Approach:
Go beyond urban programs like
NCAP and GRAP, recognizing thatairpollution
extends
beyondgeographical boundaries.

3. Coordinated Initiative for Fundamentals:
Initiate well-coordinated, sponsored efforts toaddress urban air pollution fundamentally,
fosteringregional
cooperation
andinternational collaboration

THANK YOU