India rejects global clima rankings, trusts its own air quality standards
India has set its own standards for air quality and clima management, rejecting external rankings for policymaking. The government relies on domestic assessments, including an annual survey of 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Meanwhile, the country faces significant clima challenges, with extreme weather events causing widespread impacts over the past 30 years.
The Indian government has established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to monitor 12 key pollutants. These standards aim to safeguard public health and environmental quality. However, the administration does not recognise global air quality rankings, such as those by unofficial bodies, for shaping domestic policies.
India continues to prioritise its own frameworks for air quality and clima risk management. By rejecting external rankings, the government relies on domestic surveys and policies to guide decisions. The National Clean Air Programme and state-level clima action plans remain central to its strategy for tackling environmental challenges.
