The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is a government scheme launched in January 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was created as India's first national-level framework with a time-bound reduction target to tackle the severe air pollution problem, particularly in cities that failed to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These cities are termed "non-attainment cities".
The NCAP's initial goal was to achieve a 20-30% reduction in the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. This target was later revised to a 40% reduction in PM concentration by the financial year 2025-26. The programme works by formulating city-specific action plans for the identified cities, which currently number 131. The mechanism involves a collaborative, multi-scale, and cross-sectoral coordination between central ministries, state governments, and local bodies, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) executing the nationwide programme. Key provisions include augmenting the air quality monitoring network, conducting source apportionment studies, and implementing mitigation strategies like leapfrogging to BS-VI norms and promoting electric vehicles.
The NCAP connects to the fundamental right to a healthy environment, which is recognized as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It also involves convergence with other government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and the Smart Cities Mission. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has previously directed the MoEFCC to modify the NCAP, suggesting a shorter timeline and a higher reduction target, which contributed to the subsequent revision. The most significant recent change is the revision of the target from 20-30% reduction by 2024 to a 40% reduction by 2025-26.