While initial target was to reduce PM10 pollution by 20-30% by 2024-25, compared with 2017-18 levels, this target was later revised to achieve up to a 40% reduction in PM10 pollution, or meet the national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (Āµg/mĀ³), by 2025-26.The assessment looked at Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data and the Centreā€™s PRANA portal, finding across the 130 NCAP cities, ā‚¹16,824 crore was released and ā‚¹12,087 crore has been utilised by the cities so far ā€“ representing approximately 72% of the total funds. The analysis further showed that at the end of NCAPā€™s extended implementation period, 117 of the 130 cities assessed, or 90%, had annual PM10 concentrations above Indiaā€™s national standard of 60 Āµg/mĀ³.The PRANA portal is a digital platform launched to monitor the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).ā€œCompared with the 2017-18 baseline, 21 of the 130 cities recorded a PM10 reduction of more than 40% by 2025-26, while 44 recorded reductions of more than 30%,ā€ the analysis has found.Compared with 2017-18, overall, 17 cities recorded PM10 reductions between 0-10%, 22 recorded reductions between 10-20%, 22 recorded reductions of between 20-30%, 23 recorded reductions between 30-40%, and 21 recorded reductions of more than 40%.At the same time, PM10 levels remained unchanged in two cities and increased in 23.

The cities, despite spending NCAP funds, but showing an increase in pollution levels, included Jaipur, Chennai and Bengaluru.ā€œChennai recorded the highest fund utilisation among cities where pollution increased, at ā‚¹449 crore. Its PM10 concentration was 9.1% higher in 2025-26 than in 2017-18 and 20% higher than in 2019-20.

Jaipur utilised ā‚¹353 crore, while PM10 increased by 14.5% compared with 2019-20. Bengaluru utilised ā‚¹313 crore and recorded a 6.8% increase, while Pune utilised ā‚¹289 crore despite a 24.7% rise,ā€ the analysis points out.The ministry of environment, forest and climate change did not comment on the assessment.Manoj Kumar, analyst at CREA, who led the assessment, said the next phase of NCAP should now expand coverage and adopt state-level, regional and airshed-based plans that address shared pollution sources across administrative boundaries, rather than relying primarily on individual city plans.ā€œNCAP should establish measurable emission-reduction targets for major sources, including industries, thermal power plants, transport, residential fuel use and other combustion sources.

While the programmeā€™s initial framework referred to both PM10 and PM2.5, its revised reduction target focused on PM10. The next phase must set explicit targets for both pollutants and address gaseous emissions that contribute to secondary particulate formation,ā€ he added.