SWACH VAYU SARVEKSHAN & WETLAND RECOGNITION
Why in News?
- On 9th September 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards & Wetland CitiesRecognition Ceremony 2025 in New Delhi.
- Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav felicitated 11 best-performing cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and awarded Indore and Udaipur the Ramsar “Wetland City” recognition.
ABOUT SWACHH VAYU SARVEKSHAN
AWARDED CITIES (CATEGORY 1: CITIES WITH POP> 10 LAKH)
CATEGORY 2: (CITIES WITH POP. 3 TO 10 LAKH)
CATEGORY 3: (POP<3 LAKH)
WHAT IS NCAP?
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January, 2019.
- Aim : To improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by engaging all stakeholders.
- The programme envisages to achieve reductions up to 40% or achievement of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter10 (PM 10) concentrations by 2025-26 with 2017 as base year
WHAT IS PM 10?
- PM10 (Particulate Matter ≤10 microns) refers to tiny solid or liquid particles in the air that are smaller than 10 micrometres in diameter.
- These particles can:
- Be inhaled deep into the lungs
- Cause respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and premature death
- Sources include vehicle exhaust, construction dust, industrial emissions, and road dust.
What is NAAQS?
- Full Form: National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- Defined by: CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board)
- For PM10: Acceptable annual average = 60 μg/m³
PM 10 TRENDS IN MAJOR CITIES (2024-25 V/S 2017-18)
AIR QUALITY PROGRESS UNDER NCAP (2017-2025)
- 103 out of 130 cities showed improvement in PM10 levels
- 64 cities achieved >20% reduction
- 25 cities achieved >40% reduction
- Key sectors addressed:
- Road dust
- Vehicle & industrial emissions
- Construction & demolition (C&D) waste
- Solid waste management
RECOGNITION: WETLAND CITIES UNDER RAMSAR CONVENTION
- Indore and Udaipur awarded “Wetland City Accreditation” under the Ramsar Convention.
- Recognized for urban wetland conservation efforts.
- Only cities globally demonstrating exceptional protection of wetlands qualify.
FUNDING FOR CLEAN AIR & INFRASTRUCTURE
- Total mobilized: ₹1.55 lakh crore (2019–2025)
- ₹20,130 crore allocated under NCAP to 130 cities
- ₹13,237 crore as Air Quality Performance-linked grants
- ₹73,350 crore via Central Government schemes:
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)
- AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission
- FAME-II, SATAT, Nagar Van Yojana
- ₹82,000 crore by State Govts. & ULBs
OTHER KEY INFRASTRUCTURES
- Ward-level SVS Guidelines released:
- Clean air evaluation to expand to ward level
- Aimed at grassroots awareness and accountability
- Compendium of Best Practices launched:
- Highlights innovative clean air actions by cities
- Acts as a model for replication
- PRANA Portal:
- Tracks city progress in real time
- Ensures transparency
Green & Sustainable Initiatives
- Under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign:
- Target: 75 crore trees from Sept 17– Oct 2, 2025
- 75 Nagar Vans to be developed under Nagar Van Yojana
- Circular Economy approach promoted:
- Shift from “Take-Make-Dispose” to Recycle-Reuse
WETLANDS & WATER CONSERVATION
- Ramsar Sites in India:
- 91 wetlands (from 25 in 2014) – 250% growth
- Total area: 1.36 million hectares
- India: highest in Asia, 3rd globally
- Mission Amrit Sarovar: Water body rejuvenation in each district
- Mission LiFE: 7 lifestyle themes including “Save Water”
- India has 4.7% of land area as lakes, two-thirds outside forests
- Act as “kidneys” of the environment – filtering pollutants, preventing floods
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