Lok Sabha Question No. 2339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: National Ambient Air Quality Standards Targets
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Bhajan Lal Jatav, Shri Rahul Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2339

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

## National Ambient Air Quality Standards Targets

## 2339.   SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

## SHRI BHAJAN LAL JATAV:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  percentage  of  the  current  Air  Quality  Index  (AQI)  improvement  plan  actually implemented in view of the fact that the country's AQI has been continuously rising over the last three years;
- (b) the details of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards targets for 2025-26, the details of  cities  where  PM2.5  and  PM10  levels  have  been  met  along  with  the  cities  where standards have not been met;
- (c) the  details  of  the  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  under  National  Clean  Air Programme (NCAP) since 2019, State-wise;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  nearly  two-thirds  of  cities  monitored  by  the Central

Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have moderate or worse rating of Air Quality Index (AQI);

(e)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  reports  revealing  that  independent  monitors indicate more severe AQI levels than Government-operated monitors.

- (f) the  reasons  for  the  number  AQI  monitoring  stations  being  significantly  lower  as compared to international standards; and
- (g) the time by which the real-time data collection for identifying pollution sources is likely to become fully automated?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (g): Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019 and it is a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to address air pollution in 130 non-attainment and million plus cities/urban agglomeration in 24 States/UTs. City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared by all 130 cities under NCAP to implement air quality improvement measures in respective cities. These plans target air pollution sources like soil & road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, Construction & Demolition activities and industrial pollution.

Focused actions by 130 cities under NCAP have shown positive results with 103 cities showing reduction in PM10 concentration in 2024-25 with respect to 2017-18,  64 cities  have shown reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% with respect to base year 2017-18 and 25 of these cities have achieved a reduction of more than 40%. A total of 22 Cities have met NAAQS and have PM10 Concentrations less than 60 µg/m 3 .

Further,  National  Ambient  Air  Quality  Standards  (NAAQS)  have  been  notified  for  12 pollutants in 2009 under the Environmental Protection Rules, 1986 to protect public health and environment from air pollution.

In 2022, out of 134 cities for which AQI was disseminated, 124 cities showed more good days (AQI≤200). Similarly,  in  2023,  out  of  191  such  cities,  189  cities  showed  more  good  days (AQI≤200). In 2024, out of 231 cities, 228 cities showed more good days (AQI≤200).

State-  wise  details  of  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  under  NCAP  are  enclosed  at Annexure  I .  Further,  the  programme  emphasises  the  mobilisation  of  resources  through convergence  of  various  schemes  of  Central  &  State  Governments  such  as  Swachh  Bharat Mission (Urban), AMRUT, Smart City Mission, PM e-Bus Sewa, PM E-DRIVE, SATAT, and Nagar  Van  Yojana,  as  well  as  resources  of  State  Govts.  /  UT  administrations,  Municipal Corporations and other developmental authorities.

The AQI in the country is generated through Continuous Ambient Air Quality  Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) which are equipped with state of art reference-grade systems, delivering continuous and near real-time data. The real-time measurements from these systems are also indispensable being accurate and scientifically robust air-quality data for Air Quality Index (AQI)  reporting.  These  monitoring  systems  provide  accurate,  traceable,  and  reliable  data, which  is  essential  for  compliance  assessment  under  the  National  Ambient  Air  Quality Standards (NAAQS), for scientifically credible trend analysis and for regulatory purposes.

At present, air quality data generation using any technology other than the specified in National Ambient  Air  Quality  Standard  (NAAQS),  2009  is  not  used  for  regulatory  purpose  as  its accuracy,  linearity,  reliability,  and  long-term  performance  are  not  yet  fully  established. Therefore, the data from these sensors may have a degree of error/uncertainty.

Concerned State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees install Monitoring Stations to collect ambient air quality, in line with the criteria issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At present, ambient air quality monitoring is carried out by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in 583 cities across  the  country. Ambient air quality  data collected  or authenticated by CPCB and SPCB/PCC is only recognised and disseminated to public.

Total 1597 air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS and NAMP stations) are present across 583  cities,  under  which,  562  are  Continuous  Ambient  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Stations (CAAQMS) and 1035 are Manual stations.

Presently Air Quality Index (AQI) is disseminated on real-time basis in more than 250 cities. A  centralised  air  quality  portal  and  mobile  app-SAMEER  is  functional  for  tracking  and dissemination of near real time air quality data and hourly Air Quality Index to the public. CPCB issues a daily bulletin at 04:00 PM comprising AQI of various cities in the country. SAMEER app also serves as a grievance reddressal mechanism which allows the citizens to report pollution related complaints for quick resolution by the concerned agencies. Further, air quality monitoring data is also made available by respective SPCBs/PCCs on their websites.

## Annexure-I

## Details of State-wise allocation, release and Utilisation of funds under NCAP for FY 2019-20 to 2025-26

(Rs. in crore)

| S. no.   | State            |   Allocation |   Released |   Utilisation |
|----------|------------------|--------------|------------|---------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh   |       734.9  |     407.25 |        215.84 |
| 2        | Assam            |       156.52 |     108.72 |         64.26 |
| 3        | Bihar            |       870.13 |     380.17 |        291.95 |
| 4        | Chandigarh       |        55.2  |      43.37 |         31.17 |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh     |       427.74 |     302.95 |        201.04 |
| 6        | Delhi            |       103.3  |      81.36 |         14.1  |
| 7        | Gujarat          |      1533    |    1282.98 |       1065.42 |
| 8        | Haryana          |       182    |     107.14 |         49.87 |
| 9        | Himachal Pradesh |        29.43 |      22.84 |         16.93 |
| 10       | Jammu & Kashmir  |       278.14 |     188    |         58.53 |
| 11       | Jharkhand        |       604    |     279.44 |        184.52 |
| 12       | Karnataka        |      1210.6  |     625.93 |        472.39 |
| 13       | Madhya Pradesh   |      1234.52 |     834.65 |        659.42 |
| 14       | Maharashtra      |      3334.03 |    1794.85 |       1439.68 |
| 15       | Meghalaya        |        12.16 |      12.16 |          6.41 |
| 16       | Nagaland         |        31.13 |      31.13 |         18.34 |
| 17       | Odisha           |       195.8  |     107.54 |         77.07 |
| 18       | Punjab           |       542.7  |     351.69 |        234.9  |
| 19       | Rajasthan        |      1151.17 |     687.45 |        589.08 |
| 20       | Tamilnadu        |       903.7  |     655.15 |        550.46 |
| 21       | Telangana        |       906.05 |     739.67 |        529.67 |
| 22       | Uttar Pradesh    |      3799.3  |    2941.16 |       2245.78 |
| 23       | Uttrakhand       |       148.4  |     102.97 |         65.38 |
| 24       | West Bengal      |      1685.24 |    1326.87 |        920.64 |
|          | Total            |     20129.2  |   13415.4  |      10002.9  |