The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has highlighted India’s multi-layered efforts to combat air pollution, marking the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on 7 September. The government’s National Clean Air Programme operates across 130 cities nationwide, combining monitoring systems, industrial controls and vehicle emission standards to improve air quality. In the financial year 2025–26 alone, 108 cities showed lower particulate matter levels than they did in 2017–18.
Progress and Scale of Action
Among the 108 cities that reduced pollution levels, 72 achieved cuts of over 20 per cent, while 26 cities saw reductions exceeding 40 per cent. Fourteen cities have already met national air quality standards. The government has allocated ₹16,423.55 crore to the 130 NCAP cities between FY 2019–20 and FY 2025–26, of which ₹11,575.54 crore has been spent so far.
Air quality monitoring now covers 1,646 stations across 603 cities in 28 States and 7 Union Territories as of March 2026. The SAMEER mobile application and web portal provide real-time Air Quality Index information for more than 292 cities.
Key interventions include the introduction of BS VI compliant vehicles since April 2020, promotion of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and strengthened controls on industrial emissions. In the Delhi-NCR region, public transport buses must comply with cleaner fuel standards from 1 November 2026. Industries have been classified into five categories by pollution potential, with the most polluting ones required to install continuous emission monitoring systems linked to central regulators.
The Swachh Vayu Survekshan assessment recognises performing cities annually. In 2026, Lucknow topped the largest city category, while ward-level assessments now cover more than 7,400 wards across the country.
What this means for you
If you live in one of India’s 130 NCAP cities, air quality has measurably improved and should continue to get better. You can track pollution levels in over 292 cities using the SAMEER app. The push towards electric vehicles and stricter industrial emission norms will reduce the pollutants you breathe daily, particularly fine particulate matter that damages respiratory health. Businesses operating in polluting sectors face stricter compliance requirements and real-time monitoring, making violations costlier to maintain.