Environment Ministry Addresses Air Quality Standards in Parliament

WHO guidelines serve as guidance, AQI standards based on national situation: Govt

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has provided an update in the Rajya Sabha regarding India’s air quality standards, its relationship with global guidelines, and improvements in the Delhi-NCR region.

India’s Air Quality Standards vs. WHO Guidelines

Minister of State (MoS) for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, clarified the government’s approach to air quality standards in response to a query from CPI(M) MP V Sivadasan:

WHO Guidelines: The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) air quality guidelines are a guidance document with recommended values.
National Standards: Countries, including India, establish their own air quality standards based on geography, environmental factors, background levels, socio-economic status, and national circumstances.
India’s NAAQS: The MoEFCC has notified the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 air pollutants to safeguard public health and environmental quality.

Pollutant Measurement	Revised WHO Threshold	India’s 2009 NAAQS	Comparison (India vs. New WHO)
PM2.5 (24-Hour Average)	$15\mu g/m^3$	$60\mu g/m^3$	4 times higher
PM2.5 (Annual Average)	$5\mu g/m^3$	$40\mu g/m^3$	8 times higher
PM10 (24-Hour Average)	$45\mu g/m^3$	(Not explicitly mentioned, but higher)

Monitoring and Progress

The Ministry highlights its efforts to track and improve air quality:

Swachh Vayu Survekshan: The MoEFCC conducts this annual survey to rank 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) based on implementation of air quality improvement measures.
Improvement in Delhi-NCR: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav noted that focused policy interventions have led to progressive improvement in Delhi-NCR air quality:
- Good Air Quality Days (AQI < 200): Increased to 200 days in 2025 from 110 days in 2016.
- Average AQI (Jan-Nov 2025): Recorded at 187, down from 213 in 2018.
- Severe Plus Days (AQI > 450): Has not been reached for a single day in Delhi in 2025 so far.
- Stubble Burning Reduction: Punjab and Haryana recorded about 90% reduction in fire incidents during the paddy harvesting season in 2025 compared to 2022.