About NCAP

• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to tackle the air pollution crisis in a comprehensive manner. 
• NCAP envisaged a reduction by 20-30% in Particulate Matter (PM) concentration over baseline in 2017 by 2024. Target has been revised to achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3) by 2025-26.
• 131 million plus/non-attainment cities (cities exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), consecutively for five years) have been identified for implementing mitigation actions under NCAP. 
• City Action Plans (CAPs) have been prepared by all 131 cities and are being implemented by Urban Local Bodies.
• CAPs target city specific air polluting sources like Soil & Road Dust, Vehicles, Domestic Fuel, Construction Material and Industries, etc.

About NAAQS 

• Ambient air quality refers to the condition or quality of air surrounding us in the outdoors. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are the standards for ambient air quality set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that are applicable nationwide. 
• The CPCB has been conferred this power by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• NAAQS was adopted in 1982 for the first time in India and it was revised in 1994 and 2009.
• The current standards (2009) comprise the following 12 pollutants: 
  • Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), PM10, PM2.5, Lead (Pb), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ammonia (NH3), Benzene (C6H6), Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP), Arsenic (As) and Nickel (Ni).

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2043004