Bharat’s Air Crisis: Why Clean Air Remains a Distant Dream
" From Delhi’s grey skies to Punjab’s smouldering fields, every breath in Bharatcarries a cost — yet the political will to clear the air remains alarmingly thin.
Paromita Das
New Delhi, 10th November: In 2025, the air in Bharat tells a troubling tale. Nearly every city—from the narrow lanes of Delhi to the industrial belts of the north—reports levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) that far exceed safe thresholds set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet the public narrative remains disappointingly familiar: blame directed at farmers, vehicle owners, or construction dust—while systemic failures go largely unaddressed. Bharat stands at a crossroads. The scale of the crisis requires more than finger-pointing; it demands full recognition, unflinching policy action, and a long-term commitment to clean air.
Widespread Pollution, Staggering Impact
According to the latest Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 update by the Energy Policy Institute at University of Chicago, every region of Bharat breathes air above the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ for annual mean PM 2.5. Shockingly, 46 % of India’s population lives in areas breaching India’s own national annual PM 2.5 limit of 40 µg/m³. The northern plains—encompassing states like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh—bear the brunt, with some 544.4 million people exposed to particularly high levels.
What does this translate to in human terms? The AQLI estimates that air pollution in Bharat cuts average life expectancy by about 3.5 years. In the worst-hit metro region of Delhi NCR, the loss is up to 8.2 years. The categories of illness linked to this invisible threat span respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung cancer—and emerging research now connects PM 2.5 exposure to cognitive decline and dementia.
The Policy Gap: Vision Without Delivery
Bharat launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2017 with the aim of reducing particulate pollution by 30 % by 2024, later revised to 40 % by 2026. Significant funds—approximately ₹19,000 crore—were earmarked. But on the ground, implementation lags. The bulk of funds has been channeled toward short-term dust suppression or monitoring equipment, rather than structural reforms such as faulting industrial emission controls or retrofitting public transport fleets.
Regional disparities only deepen the problem. Seasonal stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana, for example, worsens smog in the north, while southern cities fare somewhat better. The political discourse remains trapped in blame—farmers, motorists, urban construction—but sidesteps enforcement deficiencies: weak monitoring, under-utilization of funds, and inconsistent regulation across states.
A Lesson from Abroad: China’s Blueprint
A useful counterpoint lies in the experience of Beijing and other Chinese cities which, since 2013, have embarked on a sustained campaign to reduce air pollution. How did they succeed where others falter? The answer: a concerted, well-funded and strictly enforced policy ecosystem. Measures ranged from relocating coal industries out of city boundaries and restricting vehicle access, to enhancing urban greening and public transit. According to reports, China dedicated roughly USD 240 billion to pollution control in the past decade—an example of scale and seriousness. India’s budget may be large on paper, yet its effective utilization remains below par.
The Way Forward: From Blame to Building
If Bharat truly wants to turn the corner, the approach must shift from blaming to building. Political leadership must anchor itself in pragmatic, scalable solutions, not episodic sound-bites. The NCAP needs a revamp: full accountability, transparent fund utilization, measurable outcomes, and real consequences for non-compliance.
Agriculture must also transition: incentivizing sustainable methods to end or reduce stubble-burning, coupling this with stronger public transit, cleaner industry, and smart urban planning. Above all, the crisis cannot be treated as an environmental sidebar—it is a socio-economic imperative. After all, the health of the air is tied intimately to productivity, public health costs, educational outcomes and quality of life.
Conclusion: Breathing Life into Change
India’s air pollution crisis is deep and multifaceted—but it is not beyond redemption. It demands efficient policy execution, increased funding discipline, community engagement and above all, political courage. By learning from international examples and correcting internal fiscal and governance gaps, cleaner skies and healthier lives are within reach. Without this commitment, Bharat risks stifling its growth, compromising the wellbeing of millions, and burying the promise of a safer future.
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