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India’s air pollution strategy needs atmanirbharta
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Context
Concerns over India's over-dependence on foreign-funded air quality research, coupled with recent disruptions in global climate data networks (e.g., under the Trump administration in the US), have reignited the debate on the need for self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in India’s air pollution strategy.
Existing Gaps in India's Air Quality Management
- Overdependence on Foreign Initiatives: Several studies on India’s air pollution are funded and led by foreign entities, despite being conducted on Indian soil using Indian talent and infrastructure.
- Underutilisation of Domestic Resources: Pollution Control Boards regularly return unspent funds, and many Indian institutions fail to lead despite being well-funded and capable.
- Unequal Research Ecosystem: Most foreign collaborations and funding are channelled to elite institutions, marginalising broader national capacity building.
Missed Opportunities Despite Indigenous Capacity
- Indigenous Initiatives with Limited Reach: India’s SAFAR system (2010) was a scientific breakthrough but remained confined to just four cities.
- Strong Domestic Institutions: Agencies like IMD and ESSO are world-class, yet coordination with CPCB and state agencies remains inadequate.
- Policy versus Practice Gaps: Despite schemes like Make in India, scientific self-reliance in air quality data, monitoring, and forecasting has not materialised at scale.
Way Forward – Towards Atmanirbhar Air Quality Strategy
- Creation of Unified Resource Framework: NARFI (National Air Quality Resource Framework of India) is proposed as a collaborative, evidence-based, and interdisciplinary knowledge platform.
- Need for Airshed-Based Approach: Moving beyond city-specific models, India must adopt a regionally-integrated airshed management system, using fine-gridded emissions data.
- Health and Food Security Centric Strategy: Future policy must integrate air quality with public health and food production goals to build a robust, autonomous environmental strategy.
Practice Question
Q. India's air pollution crisis cannot be solved without achieving scientific and institutional atmanirbharta. Critically examine the existing limitations and suggest a roadmap for an indigenous, data-driven, and health-centric air quality management strategy.More Articles
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