The PM2.5 level in Delhi for 2025-26 stood at 102 µg/m³, surpassing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of ≤ 40 µg/m³. However, 65 cities achieved the set PM2.5 levels during the same period, as per Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh.
In cities like Pune, Hyderabad, Surat, Delhi, and Mumbai, the PM2.5 levels ranged from 32 to 102 µg/m³ during 2025-26. Under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 130 cities displayed positive outcomes, with 108 cities witnessing reductions in annual PM10 concentrations compared to 2017-18.
Notably, 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in FY 2025-26, a significant increase from six cities in 2017-18. The government released a substantial air quality performance-based incentive grant of Rs 16,423.56 crore to targeted cities to combat air pollution under the NCAP from 2019-20 to 2025-26.
The Central government established the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR effectively. This commission has been granted powers to issue directives to agencies in the National Capital Region to enhance air quality and safeguard public health.
The government has also set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 12 air pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5, to ensure public health and environmental quality. Additionally, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was introduced in 2015 to provide understandable air quality information and its health implications.
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), initiated in 2019, focuses on addressing air pollution in 130 cities across India, including Pune, Surat, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. This program involves collaborative efforts between the Central and state governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and other stakeholders to implement source-specific mitigation measures for cleaner air.
State-level Clean Air Action Plans formulated by states and Union Territories aim to combat both PM10 and PM2.5 pollution through coordinated policy and enforcement measures, as highlighted by MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh.
