Widespread Air Pollution in India

Air Quality in India: An analysis indicates that 60% of India’s districts experience polluted air throughout the year, affecting 447 out of 749 districts, with particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceeding national standards.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS):

• Indian standards for PM2.5: 40 μg/m³.
• WHO guidelines: 5 μg/m³, which are eight times stricter than India's standards.

Polluted Districts:

• States with the highest pollution:
  • Delhi: 11 districts
  • Assam: 11 districts
  • Bihar: 7 districts
  • Haryana: 7 districts
  • Additional states: Uttar Pradesh (4), Tripura (3), Rajasthan (2), West Bengal (2).
• States with fewer polluted districts: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Sikkim, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

Seasonal Variations in Air Quality:

• Winter (Dec-Feb): 82% of districts (616 of 749) breach national standards.
• Monsoon (Jun-Sep): 90% (675 of 749) within safe limits.
• Post-monsoon: Deterioration seen with 75% (566 of 749) exceeding safe limits.

Methodology of Study: Utilized satellite data and ground-based pollution sensors, combined with a machine-learning model for district-level PM2.5 concentration assessment. Population-weighted metrics used to gauge overall health exposure.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Operated a network of 966 air quality stations in 419 cities in India, with 940 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme. A separate 274 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) exist for real-time data but are unevenly distributed.

Recommendations from the Report:

• Importance of establishing more dense monitoring networks across states to improve air quality assessment.
• Highlighted potential underestimation of pollution levels due to the sparse network.

Conclusion: The analysis stresses the urgent need for improved air quality management and monitoring systems across India, particularly in northern and eastern states, given their significant pollution exposure risks.