An analysis by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has revealed a substantial rise in fine particulate matter on Diwali, with a 45 per cent increase in PM2.5 and a 33 per cent increase in PM10, compared to the previous year.

Based on the need to establish scientifically robust health-based standards, this working paper evaluates the global best practices for setting or revising air quality standards.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest And Climate Changehas identified 123 non-attainment cities, where PM10 concentrations have exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standa

Air pollution in recent years has become one of the most critical environmental issues. According to the 2021 World Air Quality Report, almost every Indian city exceeded the recommended WHO air quality levels.

Since 2011, WHO has been compiling and publishing ground measurements of air quality and, specifically, the annual mean concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ≤ 10 μm (PM10).

In 2019, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Government of India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which proposes strategies to reduce air pollution in several cities in India.

Jharkhand is a mineral-rich state in India. Its cities have access to various solid fuels and proximity to several heavy industries. These factors, along with the movement of traffic (public and goods), contribute to air pollution in the state.

Air pollution is universally recognized as one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent years, this impact has risen at an alarming rate and has resulted in an increased premature death and threatened the livelihoods and sustainable development in region.

This report contains a comparative analysis of five African cities in terms of their air pollution problem, as well as their attempts to manage and improve air quality. Also included is an analysis of the impact of counter measures to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in those cities, and the impact that these had on air pollution levels.

This report is a continuation of ‘Tracing the Hazy Air: Progress Report on National Clean Air Programme’ released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in January 2022.