Tracing the Hazy Air 2023
Progress Report on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 as a dynamic document focused around formulating and renewing action plans for combating particulate matter pollution through periodic reviews based on scientific inputs. Further, a mid-term review was also proposed for setting of long-term pollution reduction targets based on the results obtained in the preceding years since inception of the programme. Although four years have elapsed since the launch of NCAP, only 37 of the 131 non-attainment cities have completed source apportionment studies. Greater transparency for tracking the continued progress of NCAP can be achieved by allowing public access to these studies along with ensuring regular updates on the city action plans based on the source apportionment studies conducted in order to develop a robust and comprehensive target-based method of mitigating air pollution.

The current report is a continuation of ‘Tracing the Hazy Air: Progress Report on National Clean Air Programme’ released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in January 2022 (Ghildiyal and Dahiya, 2022). The report attempts to analyse the implementation and progress of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) towards reducing air pollution levels since its launch in January 2019. The assessment will help policymakers, civil society organisations, researchers and citizens to realign the actions and priorities for efficient utilisation of resources and energy towards cleaning the air. This review of the flagship National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) takes stock of the progress
made in governance and management of ambient air quality in the country till December 2022.

The scope of the study is limited to tracking the indicators at the national level coordinated or implemented by national institutions while an in-depth analysis of the actions by non-attainment cities and their respective states or union territories is not included in the current study.

Press release available here.

Sunil Dahiya, Analyst, CREA

India