NAAQS, or National Ambient Air Quality Standards, are the air quality standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), applicable across India.

 NAAQS, or National Ambient Air Quality Standards, are the air quality standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), applicable across India. These standards are designed to protect public health and the environment from air pollution. The CPCB has the authority to set these standards under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Arthapedia reports. The most recent version of NAAQS was notified in 2009 and covers 12 health-based parameters. 

Key aspects of NAAQS:

Purpose: To ensure uniform air quality across India, regardless of land use. 

Scope: Covers 12 health-based parameters for monitoring at the national level. 

Monitoring: Requires a combination of manual and continuous methods at each monitoring location. 

Review and Revision: The NAAQS are continuously reviewed and revised to incorporate advances in scientific research and technology. 

Collaboration: Monitoring is done in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). 

Data: Data collected is transmitted to the CPCB for scrutiny, analysis, and publication. 

National Air Quality Index (NAQI): A separate initiative, launched in 2014, uses NAAQS data to rate air quality in six categories. 

Examples of pollutants covered by NAAQS:

PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO

Ozone, NH3, Lead, Benzene

Benzo[a]pyrene, Arsenic, Nickel 

Additional Information:

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, empowers the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to lay down standards for air quality.

The CPCB also provides technical advice to the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on air pollution control.