How Delhi can clean its air substantially in three years

An increased supply of public transport, reducing open burning in the NCR, and enforcing dust and other pollution control measures at construction sites will help achieve this

- Arunabha Ghosh

Delhi has a new government and chief minister. In its manifesto, the winning party promised a Delhi Clean Air Mission that would halve the average AQI by 2030. Air pollution—a perennial problem—is one of the biggest public health challenges for India and also results in loss of investments, erosion of GDP growth, and lower productivity. In 2013, Beijing's average PM2.5 (the key pollutant) was around 100 µg/m³, but today, the annual average stands slightly below 40 µg/m³, which incidentally is the National Ambient Air Quality Standard in India. In contrast, Delhi's annual average PM2.5 was a "poor" 102 µg/m³ in 2024. Although estimates vary, a significant share of the city's pollution originates within. Delhi can lower PM2.5 levels to at least a "moderate" level of 80 µg/m³ by 2028 by taking action on priority.

Attributing air pollution to the sources that cause it is not an exact science. Despite the unceasing interest in the Capital's air quality, assessments of sources remain too dated, sporadic, and seasonal to authoritatively state the exact contribution from each. However, that does not justify inaction within the city—we have sufficient data to identify the main culprits. Transport, biomass and solid-fuel burning, waste burning and dust contribute year-round. Industrial units outside Delhi's borders add to the burden. In winter, external sources such as stubble burning compound the problem. Our synthesis of existing studies and reasonable assumptions to fill in data gaps provides the basis for this targeted action plan to improve the city's air in three years.