Clearing the Air: A Review of City Actions to Fight Air Pollution in India

To improve long-term air quality, the Indian Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in early 2019. The NCAP requires more than 120 Indian cities to create city-level Clean Air Plans (CAPs) to plan and implement mitigation measures aimed to reduce ambient PM concentrations. To strengthen city efforts, the “Clearing the Air” series analyzes actions across major Indian cities. It identifies a common set of mitigation measures aimed at reducing emissions from key emission sources, highlights common strategies for achieving pollution reduction goals, and presents ways to further strengthen city efforts. The series also provides updates on financing mechanisms, air pollution sources, and city CAPs; and includes recommendations for improving CAP implementation.