NCAP Progress Report 2025‑26: Industrial Fuel Switches and Air‑Quality Gains — Statement by MoEFCC Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported that under the National Clean Air Programme, over 11,000 industries in 130 cities switched to cleaner fuels in 2025‑26, leading to significant reductions in PM10 and PM2.5 levels and increased compliance with air‑quality standards, backed by a ₹16,423.55 crore financial package.
The NCAP has released its latest performance data for the fiscal year 2025‑26. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) answered a Rajya Sabha question, detailing how industries are shifting to cleaner fuels and how air‑quality indicators have improved in many cities. Key Developments (2025‑26) City‑specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared for 130 cities under NCAP, targeting sources such as road dust, vehicular emissions, waste burning, and construction activities. State Action Plans promote the use of approved fuels, clean technologies, and city‑wide gas distribution networks to replace conventional fuels with gaseous fuels in industries and commercial units. Monitoring and enforcement are carried out by the CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards ( SPCBs ) through the consent mechanism of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Urban Local Bodies report that 11,108 industries in NCAP cities have switched to cleaner fuels such as natural gas, PNG/LNG, LPG, and biogas. Financial support of ₹ 16,423.55 crore has been allocated for the period FY 2019‑20 to FY 2025‑26 via the XVth Finance Commission and the MPCCF for 48 million‑plus cities, and the Central Sector Scheme ‘Control of Pollution’ for 82 non‑attainment cities. Implementation monitoring is done by District/City level committees chaired by District Collectors or Municipal Commissioners, and by State‑level Steering Committees headed by the Chief Secretary. Important Facts and Statistics Cities have utilized ₹ 11,575.
Quick Reference
Key Insight
NCAP drives fuel‑switch and air‑quality gains across 130 Indian cities
Key Facts
- अब 130 शहरों के पास NCAP के तहत शहर‑विशिष्ट स्वच्छ वायु कार्य योजनाएँ हैं।
- NCAP शहरों में 11,108 उद्योगों ने प्राकृतिक गैस, PNG/LNG, LPG या बायोगैस में परिवर्तन किया।
- ₹ 16,423.55 crore (FY 2019‑20 से FY 2025‑26) XVth Finance Commission और MPCCF के माध्यम से आवंटित किया गया।
- ₹ 11,575.54 crore (फंड का 70.5%) खर्च किया गया, जैसा कि PRANA पोर्टल पर दिखाया गया है।
- FY 2025‑26 में 108 शहरों ने PM10 स्तरों को घटाया; 72 शहरों ने 20% से अधिक की कमी हासिल की।
- FY 2025‑26 में 14 शहरों ने राष्ट्रीय वायुमंडलीय वायु गुणवत्ता मानक (NAAQS) को पूरा किया, जो 2017‑18 में छह शहरों से बढ़कर है।
- CPCB और राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड वायु (प्रदूषण रोकथाम और नियंत्रण) अधिनियम, 1981 और जल (प्रदूषण रोकथाम और नियंत्रण) अधिनियम, 1974 की सहमति तंत्र को लागू करते हैं।
Background
NCAP is a centrally‑led programme to improve air quality in non‑attainment cities by combining policy, finance and monitoring. It links environmental law (Air and Water Pollution Acts), fiscal federalism (15th Finance Commission) and local governance (ULBs, district committees).
UPSC Syllabus
- GS3 — Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
- Essay — Environment and Sustainability
- Prelims_GS — Environmental Issues and Climate Change
- Prelims_GS — Panchayati Raj and Local Governance
- Prelims_GS — Constitution and Political System
- GS2 — Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, powers and privileges
- GS2 — Devolution of powers and finances to local levels
Mains Angle
GS‑3 (Environment & Climate Change) – discuss how NCAP integrates regulatory, financial and institutional mechanisms to achieve air‑quality targets and the challenges ahead.