Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Overview
- Air pollution has evolved into India’s largest public-health emergency, affecting all regions and socioeconomic groups.
- The latest assessment shows rising disease burdens, reduced life expectancy, and national-scale non-compliance with clean air standards.
Trends in India’s Air Pollution
- Pollution is now a year-round crisis, no longer restricted to winter months.
- Out of 256 monitored cities, 150 exceeded PM2.5 limits, indicating widespread regulatory failure.
- Delhi’s seasonal PM2.5 reached 107–130 µg/m³, far exceeding India’s limit (60 µg/m³) and WHO’s guideline (15 µg/m³).
- India’s AQI cap of 500 hides extreme values that often exceed 600–1,000.
- Chronic exposure is reducing life expectancy by 3.5–8 years across northern India.
Causes of Air Pollution in India
- Structural Drivers
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- Vehicular emissions from rapid motorisation, old diesel fleets, congestion, and weak public transport raise NOx and PM2.5 levels.
- Coal-based industries such as refineries, brick kilns and power plants emit SO₂, NOx, heavy metals and particulate matter.
- Construction and demolition dust adds PM10/PM2.5 due to unregulated digging and material handling.
- Biomass burning in rural kitchens contributes heavily to indoor and outdoor PM2.5 loads.
- Seasonal Amplifiers
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- Stubble burning in Punjab–Haryana causes short-duration but intense particulate spikes.
- Winter inversion layers trap pollutants near ground, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
- Festival fireworks intensify toxic gases during low-dispersion weather.
- Health Impacts
- Cardiovascular System
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- PM2.5 enters bloodstream causing inflammation, hypertension and higher heart-attack risk.
- Every 10 µg/m³ rise increases mortality by 8%.
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- Respiratory System
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- Rising asthma prevalence, COPD and bronchitis, particularly among children.
- PM2.5 increases paediatric emergency visits by 20–40%, reducing lung capacity by 10–15%.
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- Neurological Effects
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- Pollutants cross the blood–brain barrier, raising risks of dementia and cognitive decline.
- Linked to reduced learning outcomes in polluted cities.
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- Maternal & Child Health
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- Heightened risk of preterm births, low birth weight, stillbirths, and neonatal mortality.
- Social Inequity
- Poor households near roads, landfills and industrial belts face disproportionate exposure.
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Initiatives Taken
- NCAP targets 40% PM10 reduction in 131 non-attainment cities with expanded monitoring and action plans.
- Regulations include GRAP in NCR, BS-VI standards, EV promotion, dust-control rules and industrial emission norms.
- Judicial Bodies: SC and NGT act on stubble burning, fireworks and industrial limits.
- Technological steps involve real-time monitoring networks and satellite-based assessments.
Way Ahead
- Modernise AQI by removing the 500 ceiling and aligning levels with WHO guidelines.
- Strengthen pollution control boards through staffing, financing and independent compliance monitoring.
- Promote transport electrification, shift freight to rail, and upgrade heavy industries.
- Enforce construction dust rules and eliminate municipal waste burning.
- Integrate health systems with AQI advisories and expand community-led monitoring.
Conclusion
- Air pollution is India’s silent, chronic epidemic, undermining health, productivity and equity. Recognising clean air as a fundamental right and implementing coordinated, science-based action is essential for a healthier future.