India is likely to have a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in 2022, factoring in more pollutants, including ultra-fine particulate matter of less than PM2.5. The existing standard was formulated 12 years ago.

 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has awarded the work of updating NAAQS to an IIT-Kanpur-led team of experts, which also includes scientists from IIT-Delhi, National Physical Laboratory, NEERI and AIIMS.

 

The team will be given 12 months to finalise its report, said an environment ministry official. CPCB will give its final nod after considering views of stakeholders through public consultations, he added.

India’s first NAAQS was adopted in 1982 and subsequently revised in 1994 and 2009, factoring in eight pollutants — particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, ammonia and ozone. The group will examine the criteria adopted by different countries as also WHO guidelines. It will also factor in India’s geographical position and meteorological conditions while recommending updates