The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of standards that aim to maintain healthy air quality across India:

 The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of standards that aim to maintain healthy air quality across India: 

What they are:

The NAAQS are a technical mechanism that sets emission standards for residential and industrial areas. The standards cover 12 pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. 

How they are developed:

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) develops and enforces the NAAQS under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The CPCB monitors compliance with the NAAQS through the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). 

How they are enforced:

The NAAQS aim to provide uniform air quality across the country, regardless of land use. The latest version of the NAAQS was revised in 2009, which lowered the maximum permissible limits for pollutants. 

How they are monitored:

The CPCB monitors air quality in collaboration with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).