Despite the Union government pumping in funds worth almost Rs 6,900 crore over four years to tackle air pollution in specific cities as part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), there has been only a “marginal improvement” in air quality in the country’s most polluted cities, as per a recent analysis. Delhi was the city with the most polluted air in 2022. Cities which had the least pollution levels in 2019 also witnessed an increase in levels of particulate matter last year.

The analysis released by NCAP Tracker – a joint project by Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences that tracks India’s clean air programme and provides updates on it – marks four years of the start of India’s clean air programme. The programme still has a long way to go for it to be able to achieve its deadlines, experts said. Read More