India's air pollution strategy needs atmanirbharta

Indian Express

12-05-2025

The Centre's Make in India initiative has boosted the morale of the country's youth. From space technologies and the Moon Mission to Covid-19 vaccines and Vande Bharat trains, the country has proved its mettle. However, when it comes to improving air quality and mitigating the health impacts of pollution, we lag behind. Every year, reports rank multiple Indian cities among the world's most polluted . These rankings are often produced by foreign entities under foreign-funded projects. Air pollution remains one of India's most pressing challenges, yet we have not fully grasped its complexities. Some experts cite a lack of funds, yet pollution control boards frequently return unspent funds .
Industry collaborations with Indian R&D institutions are now being actively promoted — something that was missing in the past. A key example is the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, which signals the government's commitment to strengthening research and innovation with industrial contribution. Yet, the air quality crisis persists.
We often come across headlines about ambitious air quality projects where a small country attracts international funding, ties up with well-known and well-funded Indian institutions and initiates studies on India's air pollution. This raises two related questions: Why are developed countries, with no direct stake in India's air quality, so keen on studying it? Two, why are Indian institutes not leading such research? These concerns become even more pressing in the era of climate justice, and unequal climate sanctions. Recent reports of the shutdown of climate research at key US agencies under the Trump administration have raised worldwide alarm — they expose a critical vulnerability due to the over-dependence on data generated by global agencies for climate and weather forecasting. Many of our own weather, climate and air quality prediction systems rely on these data sets. The disruption is a wake-up call. Why not launch polar-orbiting satellites and gather global data to fulfil our model requirements?
India has a notable history of air quality advancements. We pioneered the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme in 1984 . Delhi's rapid transition to a CNG-based public transport fleet was another landmark. A significant scientific milestone came in 2010, when India developed its first indigenous air quality forecasting system, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), despite resistance from foreign agencies. Despite its success, however, SAFAR remained limited to just four cities.
Some Indian states are now taking commendable steps such as the rapid EV transition. India also has world-class agencies like the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO) and India Meteorological Department (IMD). A stronger collaboration between ESSO-IMD and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) could set a global benchmark in air quality management and forecasting.
This begs a question: Despite initiatives like Make in India, unspent funds, an abundance of talent, a young workforce, and openness to industry sponsorship, why are we still struggling to achieve true 'atmanirbharta'? Are our resources disproportionately funnelled into a select few institutions? Is there a gap in expertise? A majority of international collaborations or foreign funding is centred around elite institutions. Alarmingly, even some government-funded research institutions seem to be aligning with this foreign-dependent model.
The core challenge lies in the absence of an integrated air quality resource framework. A unified platform is needed to foster a science-based information system and a knowledge hub. This would empower decision-makers and the private sector to take informed action. Under the auspices of the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, the National Institute of Advanced Studies has undertaken a study exploring a new approach of airshed management, combined with finely gridded source emissions. This initiative aims to accelerate pollution control strategies, which could also contribute to the net-zero goal. This led to envisaging the concept of a resource framework, NARFI, designed to act as a catalyst for inter-organisational collaboration, interdisciplinary research and evidence-based decision-making. Now is the time to rethink air quality strategies by scientifically integrating broader airshed factors rather than adopting city-centric approaches. We need to prioritise health-centric measures and food security. That would mean real atmanirbharta.
Beig is Chair Professor, NIAS and Founder Director, SAFAR. Nayak is Director, NIAS and Former Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences