Land & Environment 01 November 2026
Five Years of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (2022-2026): From Rankings to Clean-Air Governance
Why in the News?
Marking the 5-year milestone of the **Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (SVS)** introduced in 2022-23 under the National Clean Air Programme (**NCAP**), the 2026 clean-air rankings were analyzed. In the 1 Million+ population category (Category-I), **Lucknow** secured the 1st rank with a score of 198/200, followed by **Indore**, **Jabalpur**, **Bhopal**, and **Agra**.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 Leaderboard (1M+ Population / Category-I):
1. **Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)** – Rank 1 (Score: 198/200; Avg PM10: 135 µg/m³).
2. **Indore (Madhya Pradesh)** – Rank 2.
3. **Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)** – Rank 3.
4. **Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)** – Rank 4.
5. **Agra (Uttar Pradesh)** – Rank 5.
*(Note: 3 out of the top 5 cities are from Madhya Pradesh).*
- Framework & Institutional Expansion:
- Evaluated by the **Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)** under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) via the **PRANA Portal**.
- Expanded in 2026 to the **ward level**, with over **7,400 wards** participating nationwide.
- **Weightage Distribution (Category-I):** 20% each to road dust, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, and waste/biomass burning. Measured PM10 reduction accounts for a modest 2.5%, as the survey evaluates municipal pollution-management machinery rather than raw ambient concentrations.
- Macro NCAP Progress (2017-18 Baseline vs. 2025-26):
- **108 out of 130 NCAP cities** recorded lower PM10 levels in 2025-26 compared to 2017-18.
- 72 cities achieved reductions exceeding 20%, while 26 cities achieved reductions over 40%.
- 14 cities successfully met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS annual target of 60 µg/m³).
Static GK Facts:
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):
- Launched: **January 2019** | Target: Up to 40% reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 by 2026 (Baseline Year: 2017-18).
- Nodal Ministry: **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)**.
- Union Environment Minister: **Bhupender Yadav**.
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
- Established: **September 22, 1974** (under the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974).
- Headquarters: **New Delhi**.
- PRANA Portal:
- Stands for: **Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in Non-Attainment cities**.
- International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas): **September 7**.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which city ranked 1st among cities with a population of over 1 million in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026?
A: Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Q: How many cities out of the top 5 in Category-I of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 belong to Madhya Pradesh?
A: Three cities (Indore, Jabalpur, Bhopal)
Q: What is the name of the dedicated portal used for monitoring NCAP implementation and Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan reporting?
A: PRANA Portal
Q: In which year was the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) officially launched in India?
A: 2019 (January 2019)
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