Air Pollution in India: Pollutants, Sources, AQI, WHO Guidelines, NCAP and GRAP (UPSC Notes + PYQs)
Air pollution for UPSC: PM2.5, PM10, ozone and other pollutants, sources, AQI, WHO 2021 guidelines, NCAP, GRAP in Delhi, stubble burning and…
Air
Air (Pollution).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity & Climate Change; Mains GS3
Explainers
In the news
CAQM reviews stubble-burning hotspots in Amritsar and Tarn Taran
A CAQM team visited Amritsar and Tarn Taran, two Punjab hotspots of paddy stubble burning, on 9-10 October 2026 and reviewed crop residue machinery, baler supply chains and control rooms. CAQM flying squads are deployed in 18 Punjab districts from 1 October to 30 November 2026 to check burning during harvest.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAQM, in-situ/ex-situ. · Mains GS-III: air pollution, crop residue.
10 Oct 2026
CAQM flying squads find 17 road-dust violations along Delhi’s Ring Road
On 3 October 2026 four CAQM flying squads inspected 25 stretches, about 35 km, of Delhi's Inner and Outer Ring Road managed by PWD. They found 17 violations of heavy visible road dust and construction and demolition waste. CAQM directed agencies to clean roads regularly to stop traffic from lifting dust back into the air.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAQM, pollution sources. · Mains GS-III: urban air pollution.
4 Oct 2026
New CAFE norms for cars: ~16.7% fuel-efficiency improvement from 2027 to 2032
On 30 September 2026 the Ministry of Power notified new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms for passenger vehicles, in force from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032. The fuel-use benchmark tightens from 3.996 to 3.3273 litres per 100 km, an improvement of about 16.7 per cent, and the reference weight rises to 1,229 kg.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAFE notifying ministry (Power, under the Energy Conservation Act). · Mains: Fleet-average standards as a nudge to EVs and hybrids.
30 Sep 2026
CAQM revises GRAP: earlier dust and DG-set actions, BS-III/IV car curbs extended to Sonipat
At its 30th Full Commission meeting on 28 September 2026, CAQM revised the Graded Response Action Plan for NCR. Curbs on DG sets and old buses now start at Stage I, and BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel car curbs extend to Sonipat. The schedule now has 48 actions across four stages.
UPSC angle: Prelims: GRAP stages; who enforces GRAP. · Mains: Reactive vs preventive air-quality governance.
29 Sep 2026
CAQM finds 16 of 22 industries non-compliant in Hapur (UP); 12 show-cause notices
On 15 September 2026, seven flying squads of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) inspected 22 industrial units in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. Sixteen broke norms and statutory directions, and 12 show cause notices were issued. The UP Pollution Control Board sealed two units, one burning hazardous sludge in a wood-fired pit furnace.
UPSC angle: Prelims: CAQM's statutory basis.
16 Sep 2026
e-FAST India launches PACT to scale zero-emission trucks
On 7 September 2026, at the 5th e-FAST India Summit, NITI Aayog launched PACT, the Platform for Aggregating Clean Transport, to pool freight demand from shippers and logistics firms and turn it into zero-emission truck deployments on chosen corridors. A ZET Marketplace was also introduced. E-freight vehicle deployments rose from 201 in FY25 to 826 in FY26.
UPSC angle: Prelims: e-FAST is NITI Aayog's initiative.
7 Sep 2026