The National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAP) was formulated in 2019 to create time-bound strategies to reduce concentration of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) by 20–30 per cent by 2024 (from the 2017 baseline). The overarching goal of NCAP is to create comprehensive mitigation strategies towards abatement of poor air quality and to augment monitoring of key pollutants. The fifteenth Finance Commission has provided direct grants to urban local bodies (ULBs) for the year 2020–21 for air pollution mitigation and to reduce PM pollution by at least 5 per cent each year. To achieve these clean air targets enhanced action plans at the city and regional levels are necessary.

NCAP has identified 122 non-attainment cities (102 initially; 20 were added later), on the basis of data obtained between 2011–15, with higher than prescribed levels of PM10. New cities were added based on screened PM2.5 levels. All these cities have been directed to devise Clean Air Action Plans in consultation with state Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).