Context:

• The National Clean Air Action Plan’s(NCAP) report card shows a mixed result. The fact remains that much needs to be done to bring the air pollution down to permissible levels in most parts of the Country.
• In this scenario, the article brings out the challenges faced in controlling air pollution in India along with suitable solutions.

Challenges in Controlling Air Pollution in India:

• Over concentration on urban landscapes: Current efforts are mainly focused on urban air pollution data analysis.
• Lack of systematic emissions inventory and inadequate monitoring networks.
• Absence of region-specific solutions: India has diverse micro-environments and climatic conditions vary according to regions. This means we need to understand a diversity of natural and scientific processes. 
• High Baseline air pollution levels: Baseline air pollution levels are higher than WHO guidelines, necessitating India-specific standards.

Suitable Solutions:

• Proposal to develop an indigenous, science-based air quality resource framework. The office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India is considering an ambitious initiative along this line.
• Create a centralised emissions dataset with standardised data collection and reporting. It should be based on globally established parameters with consideration to Indian situations.
• Establish a consortium of experts to advise on air quality science and management. The body should be an integrated mechanism that translates data into information, frames communication strategies and health advisories, issues alerts and plans mitigation strategies.
• Region specific solutions should be developed by the consortium. Air sheds and settlement patterns should also be considered along with local climatic and topographic conditions.

• Use of latest technology: Utilise satellites, drones, and CubeSats for emission hot-spot identification and air quality monitoring. National Institute of Advanced Studies(NIAS) has recently used drone-based artificial intelligence to identify emission hot spots in Bengaluru — the first time this technology has been used for this purpose — and attempted to narrow down the uncertainty in emission estimates.
• Allocation of Funds for state-level air quality management initiatives: The 15th Finance Commission provided enough funds to states for air quality management. State agencies need to work in tandem with academic and research establishments to develop forecasting systems and operationalise them

Any improvement in air quality will give benefits on various fronts such as Climate change control efforts, Human respiratory health, etc.