PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2021] Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the WHO. How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve these revised standards?

Linkage: This PYQ directly links to Delhi’s recurring “severe” AQI episodes and the article’s emphasis on PM2.5 toxicity, life-expectancy loss, and structural regulatory failure. It is relevant because achieving WHO’s revised AQGs requires stronger, coordinated, long-term reforms, precisely what the article argues India’s NCAP currently lacks.

Mentor’s Comment

Delhi’s air crisis has again reached “public health emergency” levels, revealing the chronic and structural nature of India’s most persistent environmental challenge. This article breaks down Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s analysis of Delhi’s air pollution as a “wicked problem,” expands it with UPSC-relevant framing, and provides a structured, exam-oriented guide with value additions, PYQs, micro-themes, and practice questions.

Introduction

Delhi’s annual winter pollution has evolved from a seasonal inconvenience into a chronic public health emergency. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels routinely breach the 400+ “severe” category, shortening life expectancy by up to 10 years in highly exposed regions. The article argues that Delhi’s air crisis is a “wicked problem”, a complex mix of geographical, meteorological, and man-made factors requiring bold, holistic, and long-term solutions.

Why in the News

Delhi’s air quality has once again plunged into the “severe” category post-Diwali, with AQI values exceeding 400 and triggering health alarms across NCR. What is striking is the persistence: for over a decade, seasonal pollution spikes have recurred despite policies, committees, bans, and monitoring systems. The article highlights the worsening public health impact, including a 10-year reduction in life expectancy, and shows that despite years of institutional attention, the crisis remains structurally unchanged, making this year’s episode another stark reminder of policy failure.

Delhi’s Air Pollution as a Wicked Problem

Complex Interactions: Combines geographical, meteorological, and human-made factors.
Valley-like Topography: Delhi is landlocked with restricted air flow.
Temperature Inversions: Trap pollutants close to the ground in winter.
No Single Villain: Emissions arise from vehicles, industries, agriculture, construction, and households simultaneously.

What Makes the Crisis Structurally Persistent?

Chronic Health Emergency: PM2.5 toxicity linked to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), strokes, cancers, anxiety, depression, and DNA damage.
Reduced Life Expectancy: Exposure reduces life expectancy by up to 10 years in consistently high-PM areas.
Population Movement: People relocate away from Delhi despite career opportunities due to health concerns.
Elderly & Children at Risk: Respiratory illnesses sharply rise during winter.

Why Are the Existing Measures Not Working?

Weak Enforcement: BS-VI vehicles, dust-control norms, and industrial regulations remain poorly enforced.
Rapid Urbanisation: Construction adds 27% of PM emissions; monitoring is patchy.
Outdated Technology: Many industries in NCR still use old boilers and furnaces.
Vehicular Emissions Rising: Over 3 crore vehicles in NCR; old diesel vehicles persist.

Who Are the Major Contributors Highlighted in the Article?

Stubble Burning: Seasonal crop residue burning in Punjab & Haryana adds massive smoke plumes.
Firecrackers: Diwali and wedding fireworks spike PM levels.
Waste Burning: Municipal waste, rubber, and plastic burning persists due to weak surveillance.
Industries: Brick kilns, factories, and outdated machinery emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and PM.

Structural Reforms Advocated to Address the Air Pollution Crisis

System-wide Pollution Control Plan: Not piece-meal bans; requires unified regional strategy.
Relocating Polluting Industries: Move red-category industries away from dense areas.
Urban Design Changes: Create green lungs, redesign mobility, and improve public transport.
Electric Mobility Transition: Incentivise EV adoption and shared mobility.
Agricultural Alternatives: Support farmers with smoke-free residue management.
Firecracker Alternatives: Scale up “green crackers”; enforce bans with political will.

Conclusion

Delhi’s air pollution demands collective regional action, technological upgrade, and political resolve. Seasonal, reactive measures have repeatedly failed; the crisis is structural and chronic. Treating it as a “wicked problem” requires system-wide transformation in transport, agriculture, industry, and governance, with long-term investment in cleaner technologies and behavioural change. The window for incrementalism has closed.

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