The Alarming State of Pollution in India

2 Apr 2025

The Alarming State of Pollution in India

Air pollution in India is not a seasonal issue but a year-round health crisis, leading to increased respiratory diseases, school closures, and diminished urban visibility.

State of Air pollution 

  • Global Pollution Rankings: Indian cities frequently rank among the world’s most polluted, with hazardous levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants.
    • India is  ranked as the world’s fifth most polluted country , with Meghalaya’s Byrnihat being the most polluted metropolitan area globally, according to IQAir’s World Air Quality report 2024.
  • Limited Awareness and Action: Despite the severe impact, air pollution is often treated as an isolated problem rather than a structural and governance issue.

Government Initiatives and Interventions to Curb Air Pollution

  • National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Aims to reduce PM2.5 levels by 40% by 2026, focusing on city-specific air quality improvement plans.

Chinese Model of Pollution Control and Its Effectiveness

  • Massive Financial Investment: China invested ₹22 lakh crore over five years in urban pollution control, significantly higher than India’s budget.
  • Targeted Industrial Shutdowns: China aggressively closed coal plants and relocated polluting industries away from urban areas.
  • Strict Policy Enforcement: Heavy fines and regulatory frameworks ensured compliance, unlike India’s lenient enforcement mechanisms.
  • Rapid Air Quality Improvement: Major Chinese cities saw significant air quality improvements within a few years, demonstrating the effectiveness of a well-funded and centralized approach.

  • Bharat VI Emission Standards: Introduced stricter vehicle emission norms to reduce pollution from automobiles.
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Promotes clean cooking fuel (LPG) to reduce biomass burning in households.
  • Other Programs and Funding: Initiatives such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) and Swachh Bharat Mission contribute indirectly to air quality improvements.

Challenges with India’s Approach Towards Pollution

  • Fragmented and Slow Implementation: Despite multiple programs, lack of coordination among agencies hampers effective action.
  • Inadequate Funding and Resource Allocation: NCAP’s budget is significantly lower than required, and only 60% of the allocated funds were utilized between 2019 and 2023.
  • Over-reliance on High-Tech Solutions: Smog towers, AI dashboards, and advanced sensors are prioritized over fundamental pollution control measures like reducing biomass burning.
  • Limited Local Government Capacity: Municipal bodies operate with outdated infrastructure and insufficient authority to enforce pollution control measures.
  • Elite Capture and Urban-Centric Policies: High-tech solutions benefit metropolitan areas, while rural and informal sectors—major pollution contributors—are often overlooked.

Way Forward

  • Strengthening Local Governance: Empower municipal bodies with adequate resources and authority for effective pollution control.
  • Data-Driven Targeted Actions: Shift from broad pollution monitoring to identifying and addressing specific pollution sources.
  • Equitable Policy Implementation: Ensure pollution control measures reach rural and informal sectors, not just urban elites.
  • Balancing Research and Action: Establish separate funding for research and immediate, on-ground interventions to accelerate progress.

India’s clean air future depends on people, partnerships, and purposeful action rather than over-reliance on technology or fragmented efforts.

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Know about Physics Wallah

Physics Wallah is an Indian online education platform, that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students of classes 6 to 12 and those preparing for JEE and NEET exams. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample papers, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers, which makes us a one-stop solution for all resources. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.

We Stand Out because

We successfully provide students with intensive courses by India's qualified & experienced faculties. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.

Our Key Focus Areas

Physics Wallah’s main focus is to create accessible learning experiences for students all over India. With courses like Lakshya, Udaan, Arjuna & many others, we have been able to provide a ready solution for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formulae to giving e-books of eminent authors, PW aims to provide reliable solutions for student prep.

What Makes Us Different

Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others.

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

# #
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.