What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?

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Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

The National Clean Air Programme, launched in January 2019, is a city-focused plan that sets a time-bound particulate reduction target, funds city action plans on performance, expands monitoring and builds tiered institutions. Its revised target seeks up to a 40 percent cut in PM10 by 2025-26 over 2017 levels.

**Introduction**

With about 1.67 million air pollution deaths in 2019 (Lancet Planetary Health, 2020), India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019 as its first time-bound national plan for ambient air.

**Targets, Coverage and Funding of NCAP**

1. **Time-bound target**: The original goal of a 20 to 30 percent cut in particulate concentrations by 2024 was revised in 2022 to up to 40 percent in PM10 by 2025-26, over 2017 levels.
2. **City action plans**: About 130 non-attainment and million-plus cities must implement plans against dust, vehicles, industry and burning, and had received ₹13,852.22 crore by 2025-26 (MoEFCC Annual Report), with grants linked to measured PM10 decline.

**Knowledge and Institutional Architecture**

SKETCH: flow-cycle | NCAP City Cycle
- City action plan
- Source apportionment
- Sectoral mitigation
- PM10 measured
- Performance grant

1. **Data backbone**: Wider monitoring networks, emission inventories, source apportionment studies and IIT-led knowledge partners guide each city to spend on its dominant sources.
2. **Tiered governance**: Apex, steering and monitoring committees at the Centre, state and city committees below, the PRANA portal and the Swachh Vayu Survekshan ranking, which Indore topped in 2023, enforce accountability.

**Way Forward**

1. **Teeth and airsheds**: Statutory backing and regional airshed plans, like the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR, should replace city-only action.
2. **Right priorities**: Funds must shift from road dust to combustion sources, and the 2009 NAAQS, weaker than WHO guidelines, need revision.

**Conclusion**

NCAP sets a measurable target, funds results and builds institutions; with legal force and an airshed lens it can make the Article 21 right to clean air real and move India's cities towards SDG 11.

What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?

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