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QUESTION 7
GS3
10 marks

Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the WHO. How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s NCAP are required to achieve these revised standards?

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150 words
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What the examiner wants

Describe the WHO's 2021 air quality guidelines, how they differ from 2005, and what India's NCAP must change to meet them.

DescribeGive a clear, detailed account of the main features.

Demand-wise check

  1. 12021 AQGs: annual PM2.5 limit cut from 10 to 5 µg/m³; PM10 from 20 to 15; NO2 annual from 40 to 10; new interim targets≈30 words
  2. 2Reason: new evidence of harm at lower levels≈30 words
  3. 3India's NAAQS (2009) allow PM2.5 at 40 µg/m³ annual; NCAP targets 40% cut by 2025–26≈30 words
  4. 4Changes needed: revise NAAQS, legal backing, sector-specific targets, airshed approach, more monitors, health-based targets≈30 words

Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.

Answer plan

Key 2021 pointsComparison with 2005India's gapNCAP changesConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Not covering all three parts of the question
  • No PM2.5 figures: WHO annual 10 to 5 µg/m³ vs India's NAAQS 40

Draw this

  • Table: pollutant | WHO 2005 | WHO 2021 | India NAAQS

Value addition

  • DataWHO 2021: PM2.5 annual guideline 5 µg/m³ (was 10); 24-hour 15 µg/m³ (was 25).WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines, 2021
  • ProgrammeNCAP (2019) covers 131 non-attainment cities; its target was revised to a 40% PM10 cut by 2025–26 from 2017 levels.MoEFCC, NCAP

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