The Silent Emergency

Air pollution is no longer just a seasonal discomfort for India — it is a public health emergency claiming lives silently and relentlessly. Toxic air is fuelling asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, but also contributing to heart disease, diabetes, anaemia, and even premature deaths in children. According to The Lancet Planetary Health, nearly 1.5 million Indians die every year because pollution levels remain far above WHO-recommended limits. The urgency is undeniable: clean air is not merely an environmental goal, it is a public health necessity.

A recent study by IIT-Delhi and Climate Trends provides a way forward. It shows that reducing pollution levels by just 30 per cent could significantly lower the burden of chronic illnesses, improve maternal and child health, and reduce cases of low birth weight. By drawing from the National Family Health Survey and epidemiological data, the study reveals the tangible human benefits of adhering to India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Launched in 2019, the NCAP promised to reduce particulate matter pollution by 40 per cent by 2026 in 131 cities. But its performance has been uneven. Monitoring stations remain sparse or poorly located, funds go underutilised, and coordination across states is almost absent. Treating pollution as a city-specific issue is also flawed, as polluted air moves freely across administrative boundaries, choking both urban and rural India alike.

If the NCAP is to succeed, three reforms are critical. First, expand monitoring to rural areas and ensure stations are placed in genuine hotspots—industrial zones, congested markets, and construction-heavy belts—rather than low-density regions. Second, build inter-state coordination through regional task forces that address transboundary air pollution, much like water-sharing boards. Third, link public health with environment policy by integrating hospitals, health data, and pollution research into the decision-making process.

Citizen participation too can no longer be ignored. Simple behavioural shifts—segregating waste, avoiding stubble burning, reducing vehicular idling—can multiply the impact of policy. Public campaigns, school-level awareness, and citizen-led monitoring networks can add pressure for accountability. Equally, funds allocated for NCAP must be transparently tracked, with penalties for cities and states that fail to act.

The IIT-Delhi study makes it clear: the benefits of clean air go beyond breathing easier—they translate into fewer hospital visits, healthier pregnancies, stronger children, and reduced economic losses. The science is persuasive; what is needed now is political will and administrative discipline.

India’s vision of a developed nation cannot rest on foundations of toxic air. Turning NCAP into a success will require urgency, cooperation, and transparency. Clean air is the most basic right to life, and one that the government cannot afford to postpone any longer.