The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is India’s city-level plan to cut air pollution. It began in January 2019. It is a strategy with targets and funds. It is not a law.
At a Glance
Four facts to hold on to.
01
Launched
January 2019, MoEFCC.
02
Cities
About 130 in 24 States and UTs.
03
Target
Up to 40% PM10 cut by 2025-26.
04
Legal force
None. It is a programme.
Non-attainment cityA city that keeps missing national air standards.
PRANAPortal that tracks city action plans.
GRAPGraded Response Action Plan for Delhi-NCR.
CAQMCommission for Air Quality Management.
In this lesson
The Programme and Its Targets
Must Know
What NCAP is
- The Environment Ministry (MoEFCC) launched NCAP in January 2019.
- It aims to improve air quality in about 130 cities across 24 States and UTs.
- These are non-attainment cities and million-plus cities.
- A non-attainment city repeatedly misses the national ambient air quality standards.
- Each city has its own action plan.
- Plans cover transport, industry, dust, waste burning and more.
- Source: PIB, Parliament reply, Dec 2024.
The targets, and how they changed
- The first goal was a 20–30% cut in PM2.5 and PM10 by 2024. The base year was 2017.
- The goal was later revised. It now reads up to 40% PM10 cut, or the national standard of 60 µg/m³, by 2025-26.
- The new base year is 2019-20.
- PM10 is the main tracked measure.
Tracking progress
- The PRANA portal tracks city action plans online.
- Cities report their actions and results.
- Air quality data comes from monitoring stations.
- Source: PIB, NCAP and the PRANA portal.
| Item | Original | Revised |
|---|---|---|
| Target | 20–30% cut | Up to 40% PM10 cut, or 60 µg/m³ |
| Deadline | 2024 | 2025-26 |
| Base year | 2017 | 2019-20 |
True or False: NCAP’s revised goal is up to a 40% PM10 cut by 2025-26, using 2019-20 as the base year.
Funding and Action on the Ground
Good to Know
Money tied to results
- The 15th Finance Commission set aside ₹12,139 crore for 42 million-plus cities.
- The period is FY 2020-21 to 2025-26.
- These are performance-linked grants. Cities that cut pollution more get more.
- A special ₹4,400 crore grant was released in FY 2020-21.
- Overall, ₹16,539 crore was allocated for NCAP for 2019-20 to 2025-26.
- Sources: PIB, 2022; PIB, 2024.
Delhi-NCR and GRAP
- GRAP has four stages. Curbs get stricter as air quality worsens.
- CAQM runs GRAP across Delhi-NCR.
- GRAP is an emergency tool. It does not replace year-round plans.
What cities actually do
- Cleaner fuels and electric buses cut vehicle fumes.
- Water sprays and green nets hold down construction dust.
- Burning waste and crop residue is banned or penalised.
- Industries move to cleaner fuels and install pollution controls.
- Cities spend grants on monitoring, dust control and green cover.
True or False: GRAP has four stages that tighten as Delhi-NCR’s air quality worsens.
Progress, and Where It Stands Legally
Great to Know
Results so far
- For 2023-24, 97 of 130 cities improved on PM10 compared with 2017-18.
- 55 cities cut PM10 by 20% or more.
- 18 cities met the national standards for particles.
- Progress is uneven. Some cities moved fast. Others did not.
- Source: PIB, Parliament reply.
A strategy, not a law
- NCAP has no statutory force.
- Enforcement uses the Air Act 1981 and the Environment Protection Act 1986.
- Courts and the National Green Tribunal use these laws to order action.
- See Environment Protection Act 1986 and CPCB.
The wider push
- Vehicle emission norms and fuel rules support NCAP.
- Many ministries and state governments must work together.
- Steady monitoring and funding decide whether targets are met.
- For the pollutants themselves, see Air Pollution in India.
Think it through: why can NCAP push cities to act if it has no legal force?
NCAP brings targets, money and monitoring. Laws like the Air Act 1981 bring penalties. Courts and the NGT can order action under those laws. The two work together.
True or False: NCAP carries statutory legal force of its own.
Current Affairs
Current Affairs
Lucknow tops the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (7 Sep 2026)
- The awards were given on Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026.
- 130 NCAP cities took part. The ward-level survey covered more than 7,400 wards.
- Lucknow topped the above-10-lakh category, up from 15th place before.
- Source: PIB.
Experts call for an NCAP 2.0 (Nov 2025)
- Experts want the next phase to focus on finer PM2.5 particles.
- They also want rural areas and smaller cities covered.
- They ask for clearer targets and stronger accountability.
- Source: Indian Express.
Review of city plans (July 2024)
- The Centre began reviewing city plans to speed up use of released funds.
- Source: Indian Express.
True or False: Lucknow topped the above-10-lakh category in the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan.
Exam Edge
Previous Year Questions
UPSC Mains 2020 asked about NCAP.
- UPSC Mains 2020, GS III, Q17“What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?” Cover the 2019 launch, the targets, city action plans, PRANA and grants. Add that NCAP is not a statute. View the question.
True or False: UPSC Mains 2020 asked about the key features of NCAP.
Quick Q&A
Launch year?
2019.
Who launched it?
MoEFCC.
Revised target?
Up to 40% PM10 cut by 2025-26.
Tracking portal?
PRANA.
Legal force?
None.
0 / 5 correct
🎲 Practice: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
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