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The Union Environment Minister reviewed the air-pollution action plans submitted by NCR states, focusing on stakeholder engagement and behavioural change.
State Pollution Control Boards were told to target identified pollution hotspots and apply a 'zero-tolerance' policy to non-conforming polluting industries.
Over 25 meetings have been held in the past year to review municipal air quality management plans in the NCR.
A ministerial review of state progress was announced for September.
Cut particulate pollution across India's most polluted cities through city-specific action plans.
Key: Launched in 2019 covering 131 cities across 24 states, initially targeting a 20-30% cut in PM10 against a 2017-18 baseline, later revised to a 40% reduction or attainment of the 60 µg/m³ national annual standard.
Apply emergency curbs in Delhi-NCR in proportion to how bad the air actually is.
Key: Notified in 2017, it works in stages keyed to AQI bands, escalating from dust control through construction and vehicle restrictions. CAQM invokes and revokes the stages.
Curb the post-harvest burning of paddy residue in Punjab and Haryana that drives the NCR's autumn pollution spike.
Key: The reason Punjab's Agriculture Minister and Secretary sat in an air-quality review at all — the source is agricultural, while the impact is urban and inter-state, which is precisely why CAQM's jurisdiction extends beyond Delhi.
Apex statutory body for air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas, created by the 2021 Act; supersedes earlier ad hoc authorities and issues binding directions.
National technical and regulatory body on pollution; runs the National Air Quality Index and the SAMEER app.
Enforce pollution law within each state; directed here to map hotspots and act against non-conforming industries.
GS Paper 3 > Environment > Pollution and Conservation
General Awareness > Environment
Consider the following: 1. Carbon monoxide 2. Methane 3. Ozone 4. Sulphur dioxide Which of the above are released into atmosphere due to the burning of crop/biomass residue?
Answer: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Magnetite particles, suspected to cause neurodegenerative problems, are generated as environmental pollutants from which of the following? 1. Brakes of motor vehicles 2. Engines of motor vehicles 3. Microwave stoves within homes 4. Power plants 5. Telephone lines Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: 1, 2 and 4 only
Graded Response Action Plan — stage-wise emergency curbs in Delhi-NCR triggered by AQI bands.
A city that has failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards over a specified period; these form NCAP's target list.
CPCB's mobile app giving hourly National AQI readings and a public complaint channel.