Context: Recently an analysis showing India's progress in achieving the clean air targets was released by NCAP Tracker.

• NCAP Tracker is a joint project by news portal Carbon Copy and a Maharashtra-based start-up 'Respirer Living Sciences', designed to track air pollution.
• Cities are declared non-attainment if they consistently fail to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) over a five-year period.

Key highlights of the Report
Non-Attainment Cities

• Ghaziabad ranked as the most polluted city out of 132 non-attainment cities with highest levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10.
• Delhi was the second most polluted city with the highest PM 2.5 level and fourth in cities with the highest PM 10 level.
• PM 2.5 level continues to be more than 2.5 times the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)s safe limit of 40 ug/m3.
• It is 20 times the WHO’s safe limit of 5 ug/m3.

Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) Data

• Delhi reduced its PM levels only marginally.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

• NAAQs are the standards for ambient air quality notified by the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Objectives

• To indicate necessary air quality levels required to ensure the protection of vegetation, health, and property.
• To provide a uniform yardstick for the assessment of air quality at the national level.
• To indicate the extent and need of the monitoring programme.

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

• NCAP was implemented across India in 2019.
• Aim: To meet the prescribed annual average ambient air quality standards at all locations in the country.

Objectives

• Stringent implementation of mitigation measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution
• Augment public awareness and capacity building measures.
• Augment and strengthen air quality monitoring network across the country.

Features

• Collaborative, multi-scale and cross-sectoral coordination between relevant Central Ministries, State Government and local bodies.
• Focus on measures, participatory and disciplined approach.
• Use the smart cities framework to launch the NCAP in the smart cities under the non-attainment cities.
• Integrating the existing policies and programmes of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and other initiatives of Government of India in reference to climate changes.