Prepared by: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
Purpose: Quantifies the causal relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and its impact on human life expectancy.
Data Basis: Analysed 2023 particulate matter (PM2.5) data.
Global Context
- PM2.5 concentration in 2023 rose 1.5% over 2022, nearly 5 times the WHO guideline (5 µg/m³).
- US & Canada: Worst rise due to wildfires.
- Latin America: Bolivia among top-10 most polluted globally.
- Africa: Central & Western Africa slightly improved, but Cameroon & DRC remain worst hit.
- South Asia: Most polluted region, with Bangladesh and India topping the list.
India’s Status
- Most polluted populous country (ahead of China, US).
- All 1.4 billion people live in areas exceeding WHO’s safe PM2.5 limit.
- Life expectancy loss:
- India average: –3.5 years
- Delhi NCR: –8.2 years (highest for any metro worldwide)
- Bihar: –5.6 years
- Haryana: –5.3 years
- Uttar Pradesh: –5.0 years
- Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic belt): Worst hotspot – 544 million people (39% of population) live under hazardous PM2.5 levels.
- Air pollution reduces life expectancy in India nearly twice the impact of malnutrition and 5 times that of unsafe water/sanitation.
Government Initiatives to Control Air Pollution
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
- Launched: 2019
- Target: Reduce PM2.5 & PM10 by 40% by 2026 (baseline 2017).
- Covers 131 non-attainment cities.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
- Region: Delhi-NCR
- Emergency steps based on AQI (e.g., ban on construction, odd-even vehicles, halting diesel gensets).
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- Statutory body set up in 2021.
- Jurisdiction: Delhi, Haryana, UP, Punjab.
- Oversees GRAP, stubble burning control, vehicular rules.
Vehicular Emissions & Clean Fuels
- Leapfrogged to BS-VI norms in 2020.
- Promotion of EVs under FAME-II scheme.
- Expanded CNG infra & metro systems.
Industrial & Power Plant Emissions
- Stricter SO₂, NOx, PM limits for coal plants.
- Push for FGD retrofits & fuel switch (PNG in Delhi NCR industries).
Stubble Burning Control
- Subsidies for Happy Seeder machines & balers.
- PUSA bio-decomposer spray tested in fields.
- Mixed results – stubble fires persist.
Household & Miscellaneous Measures
- Ujjwala Yojana: LPG for households → cuts biomass burning.
- UJALA scheme: LED bulbs → reduces coal demand.
- Afforestation & dust control: Green buffers, mechanized sweeping.
- Judicial interventions by NGT (firecracker bans, dirty fuel restrictions).
Key Facts
- Air Quality Life Index (AQLI): Developed by EPIC (University of Chicago). First released in 2018.
- PM2.5 (Particulate Matter): Fine inhalable particles ≤2.5 micrometers; linked to lung, heart diseases.
- WHO PM2.5 Limit: 5 µg/m³ annual mean.
- India PM2.5 Standard: 40 µg/m³ annual mean.
- Air Quality Index (AQI) in India: Introduced in 2014; 6 categories from “Good” (0–50) to “Severe” (401–500).
- CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board): Apex pollution watchdog under Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- FAME-II Scheme: Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India (extended till 2024).
- BS-VI Norms: Equivalent to Euro-VI; enforced in India from April 1, 2020.
- NCAP Coverage: 131 non-attainment cities identified based on CPCB air quality data.
- Stubble Burning Issue: Major in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh; contributes up to 40% of Delhi’s winter PM2.5.