The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to tackle the air pollution crisis in 132 non- attainment cities in the country in a comprehensive manner. It targets 40 percent reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2025-26.
According to the MOEFCC, 95 of these non-attainment cities covered under the NCAP have witnessed an overall improvement in PM10 levels in 2021 as compared to 2017 levels. However, there are 16 cities, which have registered a significant increase in their PM2.5 levels in 2021.
Evaluation of the outcomes of the programme:

• Lack of real time monitoring: Most of the NCAP cities do not have ambient air quality monitoring systems. For example, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), only 180 stations were installed over the past four years as against the NCAP goal of 1,500 monitoring stations.
• Poor utilization of funds: There is a lack of proper utilization of funds allocated to the states under this scheme. For example, Uttar Pradesh has used only 16% of funds allocated.
• Delay in studies and reports: Only 37 cities have completed the source apportionment studies. Also, most of these reports are not available in the public domain and no city action plan has been updated with new findings of the report.
  • The CREA report highlights that apart from city-specific action plans, no other plans (state or regional level) have been formulated under NCAP prescribed timelines.

Driven by these outcomes and to further improve the quality of air, Mission LiFE, which stresses upon mindful utilization of resources and promotes environmentally conscious lifestyle at the individual level, can play a key role in reinvigorating the NCAP in the following ways:

• Updation of City Action Plans: States and cities under the NCAP have been requested to incorporate relevant actions of Mission LiFE in the State and City Action Plans for the improvement of air quality.
• Focus on behavioural change: It aims to nudge individuals and communities to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives. For example, switching off the vehicle at traffic lights/railway crossings can save up to 22.5 billion kWh of energy.
  • Mission LiFE has identified a comprehensive and non-exhaustive list of 75 individual LiFE actions across 7 categories to ensure behavioral change, like using public transport, using bicycles for short commute, etc.
• Global call for ideas: The Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3) who will have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles. It will help in awareness generation regarding the impacts of pollution.
• Key Performance indicators and targets: Tracking performance through indicators and citing targets to be achieved will be helpful in guiding the Mission to get the desired results. For example, it targets 1 billion Pro-Planet People (P3) by the end of the Mission.

Mission LiFE aims to mobilize people to take individual and collective action for protecting and conserving the environment. The NCAP can get a boost if it is supported by the individual, community and institutions through environment-friendly sustainable actions.