Topic3 stories
Air pollution
Every story on Air pollution in the news so far, newest first, with the key Prelims facts and the previous-year questions UPSC has asked on it.
In the news
- Supreme Court rules out a total firecracker ban, open to next-generation green crackers 1 October 2026 · The Hindu
Neither a total ban nor round-the-clock bursting: where will the court draw the line this Deepavali?
- Stiff 'red entry' rules in land records to curb farm fires 19 September 2026 · Indian Express
A mark on your land record for burning stubble. Will it work?
- Open waste burning in Indian cities triples in winter, finds WRI India study 10 September 2026 · The Hindu
It adds under 1% of a city's PM2.5, yet poor neighbourhoods breathe its smoke. Why does winter make it worse?
Key facts
- On 30 September 2026 the Supreme Court (Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale) ruled out both a total ban and unrestricted bursting of firecrackers. (1 October 2026)
- The Bench is open to next-generation joined green crackers recommended by CSIR-NEERI, subject to conditions; the next hearing is on 15 October. (1 October 2026)
- The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas was set up under the CAQM Act, 2021. (19 September 2026)
- Paddy stubble is burnt because the gap between rice harvest and wheat sowing is short. (19 September 2026)
- A WRI India study of 11 polluted cities (2019 to 2026) found open waste burning triples in winter compared with summer. (10 September 2026)
- Open waste burning contributes less than 1% of citywide PM2.5 and PM10 emissions but raises short-term exposure near homes and dumps. (10 September 2026)
Previous-year questions
- 2025 · GS1 · 15 marks Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people's needs in a country like India. Comment.
- 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India's…
- 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?
- 2020 · GS3 · 15 marks What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the Government of India?