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A World Resources Institute (WRI) India working paper released on 10 September 2026 reports that the incidence, quantity and emissions of open municipal waste burning in Indian cities run up to three times higher in winter than in summer.
The paper draws on field surveys conducted between 2019 and 2026 in 11 polluted cities, ten of which are covered by the National Clean Air Programme.
Tier 3 cities recorded the highest winter incidence at 49.6 incidents per sq km per day, ahead of Tier 2 (46) and Tier 1 (39.4) cities, while Tier 2 cities burned the largest quantities.
Open burning contributes under 1% of citywide PM2.5 and PM10 emissions but sharply raises short-term exposure because it happens beside homes, streets and dumpsites.
Low-income neighbourhoods in Tier 2 cities recorded the study's single highest figure of nearly 84 incidents per sq km per day in winter, against a Tier 2 average of 46.
Notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. They expressly prohibit open burning of solid waste and make urban local bodies responsible for door-to-door collection, source segregation and scientific processing or disposal.
The umbrella legislation under which the 2016 Rules and most Indian waste and pollution rules are framed; empowers the Centre to lay down standards and prohibit activities that harm the environment.
Provides the statutory basis for air quality regulation by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, which enforce the ambient standards against which open-burning emissions are assessed.
Launched in January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to cut particulate pollution in identified non-attainment and million-plus cities.
Key: Covers 131 cities across 24 states and union territories; the original goal was revised to a 40% cut in PM10 levels, or attainment of the national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, by 2025-26. Ten of the 11 cities surveyed by WRI India are NCAP cities.
Launched on 1 October 2021 to make Indian cities garbage-free through full source segregation, scientific processing and remediation of legacy dumpsites.
Key: Targets exactly the collection gap that pushes residents and informal workers to burn accumulated waste; open burning is in effect a proxy indicator that the local collection chain has failed.
Independent research organisation that produced the working paper; part of the global WRI network and works on cities, air quality, energy, climate and sustainable mobility.
Parent global research organisation of WRI India.
Statutory body under the Air Act, 1981 that sets and monitors ambient air quality standards and runs NCAP monitoring; enforcement against open burning rests with state boards and urban local bodies.
Nodal ministry that notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and launched NCAP.
GS Paper 3 > Environment > Environmental pollution and degradation; GS Paper 2 > Governance > Urban local bodies
General Awareness > Environment and current affairs
As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Answer: The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.
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
Uncontrolled burning of municipal solid waste in the open, outside any regulated disposal or treatment system.
A city that failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards over a five-year period; 131 such cities are covered by NCAP.
Persistent, highly toxic organic pollutants released when chlorinated materials such as plastics are burned at low temperatures.