India’s air pollution crisis now full-blown assault on brains, bodies: Congress – The Hindu

Report on India’s Air Pollution Crisis and its Conflict with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

On October 26, 2025, a report emerged highlighting India’s air pollution as a severe public health and national security crisis, extending beyond respiratory ailments to systemic physiological and neurological damage. The situation presents a significant impediment to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The report calls for an urgent and radical revision of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and an update to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to mitigate the crisis and realign national policy with global sustainability targets.

2.0 Health Impacts and Contradiction to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The air pollution crisis directly undermines SDG Target 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous air pollution. The health ramifications are catastrophic, positioning air quality as a primary public health emergency.

• Mortality Rate: Approximately 2 million deaths in India during 2023 were linked to air pollution, marking a 43% increase since 2000.
• Comparative Death Rate: India’s air pollution-related death rate is 186 per 100,000 people, which is over ten times the rate observed in high-income nations (17 per 100,000).
• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Nearly 90% of these deaths were attributed to NCDs, directly conflicting with SDG Target 3.4 (reduce premature mortality from NCDs). Specific contributions include:
  • 70% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) deaths
  • 33% of lung cancer deaths
  • 25% of heart-disease deaths
  • 20% of diabetes deaths
• Neurological Impact: Exposure to PM2.5 particulate matter has been linked to brain damage, accelerated cognitive decline, and dementia, with air pollution tied to 626,000 dementia deaths globally in 2023.

This public health catastrophe also threatens SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by compromising the health and productivity of the nation’s current and future workforce.

3.0 Policy Deficiencies and Implications for SDG 11 and SDG 16

The crisis exposes significant gaps in environmental governance, hindering progress towards SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and highlighting the need for stronger institutions as per SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Inadequate Standards: India’s current standard for PM2.5 is eight times the WHO guideline for annual exposure and four times the guideline for 24-hour exposure. This failure to adopt protective standards is a direct barrier to achieving SDG Target 11.6 (reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality).
• Ineffective Programmes: Despite the launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2017, PM2.5 levels have continued to rise.
• Universal Exposure: The entire population of India now resides in areas where PM2.5 levels significantly exceed WHO guidelines, indicating a systemic failure of existing environmental management frameworks.

4.0 Recommendations for Alignment with SDG Targets

To address the crisis and make meaningful progress on the SDGs, the following policy actions are urgently required:

1. Radical Revision of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): The program must be fundamentally overhauled to establish effective, time-bound, and accountable measures for pollution reduction that protect public health in line with SDG 3.
2. Urgent Update of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): The NAAQS, last updated in 2009, must be revised to align more closely with current scientific evidence and WHO guidelines, thereby creating a regulatory foundation for achieving SDG Target 3.9 and SDG Target 11.6.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on India’s air pollution crisis directly addresses two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is central to the article, which frames air pollution as a “public health catastrophe.” It explicitly links air pollution to severe health impacts, stating that “approximately 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution” in 2023. The article further details the connection to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia, emphasizing that the crisis is a “full-blown assault on our brains and bodies.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is relevant because the article discusses the pervasive nature of air pollution affecting the entire population and calls for updating national standards. The statement that “every single person in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels far exceeds the WHO guidelines” highlights the failure to manage urban and national air quality. The call to “radically revise the NCAP and also urgently update the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)” directly relates to managing the environmental impact of human settlements.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific targets can be identified:

• Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article directly connects to this target by stating that “Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and now even dementia.” It provides specific statistics, such as air pollution accounting for “about 33% of lung cancer deaths, about 25% of heart-disease deaths, and about 20% of diabetes deaths in India,” making a clear case for tackling air pollution as a method of preventing NCDs.

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

  This is the most directly relevant target. The article’s entire premise is built on the high number of deaths from air pollution. It quantifies the problem by stating, “In 2023, approximately 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution,” and provides a mortality rate: “India records around 186 air-pollution deaths per 100,000 people.”

• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

  The article addresses this target by focusing on the poor ambient air quality across India. It highlights the failure of current policies like the “National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)” and points out that “PM2.5 levels have continued to rise.” The call to update the “National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)” is a direct appeal to improve the management of air quality, a key component of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that align with the official SDG indicators:

• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.

  The article provides data relevant to this indicator by attributing specific percentages of NCD deaths to air pollution. For example, it states that air pollution accounts for “about 70% of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) deaths, about 33% of lung cancer deaths, about 25% of heart-disease deaths, and about 20% of diabetes deaths in India.” This data can be used to measure the contribution of air pollution to the overall NCD mortality rate.

• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.

  The article provides a direct measurement for this indicator. It explicitly states, “India records around 186 air-pollution deaths per 100,000 people,” which is the exact metric used for this indicator. The total number of “2 million deaths in India… linked to air pollution” also serves as a measure of this indicator.

• Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).

  This indicator is directly referenced throughout the article. The text mentions the “Exposure to fine particulate matter measured in micrograms per cubic metre (PM2.5)” and notes that India’s present standard for PM2.5 is “8 times the WHO guideline.” The statement that “every single person in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels far exceeds the WHO guidelines” confirms that the annual mean levels of PM2.5 are a key metric for the crisis discussed.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thehindu.com