Context:
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently announced Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2023 rankings (clean air survey).
About Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan:
- Initiative by – Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Conducted by – Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Aim – To give ranking to 131 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for reducing air pollution up to 40% by 2025-26.
- Methodology –
- Categorised into 3 groups based on population
- Self-assessment by cities as per the framework provided on PRANA (Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment Cities) online portal.
- Major Components of Assessment – Solid waste management,road dust management,management of construction and demolition waste,control of vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas) is celebrated on 7 September to raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019.
Click here to read about Air Pollution
About NCAP:
- Launched in 2019 as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner.
- Target – To achieve 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- PRANA portal monitors the implementation of NCAP.
- It covers 132 of India’s most polluted or so-called non-attainment cities.
Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.
Previous Year Question
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?
1. Carbon dioxide
2. Carbon monoxide
3. Nitrogen dioxide
4. Sulfur dioxide
5. Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b)
