Lok Sabha Question No. 2127 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Public Health Advisory
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Abhishek Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2127 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY

## 2127. SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has issued any public health advisory or guidelines in 2025 to warn citizens, particularly parents and schools, during periods when the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR exceeds 400 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken measures to coordinate with the Delhi Government, hospitals and paediatric associations for preventing and managing air pollution-linked respiratory illnesses among children and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether hospitals and clinics have been directed to display real-time AQI levels or provide medical guidance during severe pollution episodes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government in collaboration with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to issue child-focused public health alerts?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d) The Government through National Centre for Disease Control implements National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) that addresses air pollution related illnesses and regularly issues public health advisories on air pollution related illnesses to State/Union Territories (UTs). Public health advisory was issued on 1st November 2025 to State/UTs which can be accessed at https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ministrys-DO-dated-01.11.2025.p df

Government through the program NPCCHH has operationalised an organisational framework at National, State and District level. Government through the Programme builds health system capacity of Delhi Government officials. Financial provisions have been made for all States and UTs in National Health Mission Programme Implementation Plans (including for Delhi Government) for capacity building, facility preparedness and awareness generation. Government engages with the professional bodies like the Indian Academy of Paediatrics to sensitize their members on ongoing work related to air pollution. Members of these bodies are advised to consider air pollution related illnesses in the differential diagnosis. They are also encouraged to counsel caregivers on preventive and health promotion practices that help reduce air pollution at the source and minimize exposure.

The Public Health Advisory on Air Pollution outlines the roles and responsibilities of health officials, including strengthening facility level preparedness for managing cardiorespiratory conditions arising from air pollution. It advises State and District Programme officials and health facility personnel to monitor observed and forecasted AQI regularly through Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)/ State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) website/Sameer App and initiate appropriate health related measures for the prevention and management of air pollution related illnesses depending on severity of the pollution levels in their respective areas.

National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) collaborates with CPCB to develop and periodically update the air pollution advisories, which includes child-focused components such as information on potential impacts in children, strengthening availability of air quality information in health sector and schools, strengthening healthcare services for respiratory conditions, developing health sector response plans and generating awareness. The advisory also includes a dedicated section on household air pollution, which affects children predominantly.

'Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas' has developed Graded response Action Plan (GRAP) that provides specific set of emergency response action, depending on the severity of air pollution levels to be implemented by identified agencies for minimizing air pollution. The Commission has also issued direction to Government of NCT of Delhi/ Haryana/Rajasthan/ Uttar Pradesh on 19 th November 2025 for postponement of physical sport competitions scheduled in November-December. The Commission posts the relevant information about invocation/revocation of GRAP and measures to be followed under Citizen Charter of GRAP schedule.

https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/citizen\_charter\_grap.pdf

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