Overview
On 10 November 2026, Mallikarjun Kharge used his X account to question the BJP government’s handling of air quality in Delhi. He asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would dare to give the nation a "Hawa Ka Hisaab" (account of air). The criticism came amid a post‑Diwali surge in pollution, aggravated by stubble burning in neighbouring states and alleged data manipulation at monitoring stations.
Key Developments
- Kharge accused the Centre of taking "piecemeal measures, PR stunts, broken promises and blame games" to address the crisis.
- He highlighted that 36 of Delhi’s 59 monitoring stations stopped reporting PM2.5 levels during the peak pollution period.
- He reminded that in 2019 the Prime Minister had labelled air pollution a "major challenge", yet little concrete action has followed.
- The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to submit detailed response plans within two weeks.
- Kharge demanded full utilisation of the National Clean Air Programme funds, noting that only 17% of the released amount had been spent.
Important Facts
- In 2023, an estimated 17,188 deaths in Delhi were attributed to particulate air pollution – about 15% of all deaths that year.
- Across India, 1,69,400 children under five died from air‑pollution‑related causes in 2021.
- Research links long‑term exposure to PM2.5 with impaired lung development and higher child mortality, especially in northern states.
- According to a September 2026 RTI, about ₹1,154 crore (nearly 60% of Delhi’s environmental compensation collections) remains unspent.
- The AQI data for many stations disappeared during the Deepavali peak, raising concerns of data tampering.
Exam Relevance
Air pollution is a recurring topic in GS‑3 (Environment) and GS‑4 (Ethics) papers. Understanding the political dynamics (GS‑2) behind policy implementation, the role of the Supreme Court in environmental governance, and the financial mechanisms of the NCAP are essential for answer writing. The data on mortality and unspent funds provides quantitative evidence for questions on health impacts and fiscal management.
Way Forward
- Ensure full and transparent utilisation of NCAP resources.
- Strengthen real‑time monitoring by safeguarding AQI data from manipulation.
- Implement stricter controls on stubble burning through incentives for alternative residue management.
- Accelerate enforcement of vehicular emission norms, especially during winter months.
- Facilitate inter‑state coordination, as pollution sources span Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan.