The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board hosted the 5th International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies or Swach Vayu Diwas on 7 September 2024 in the pink city of Jaipur.

Along with the 5th International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies or Swach Vayu Diwas, the 4th meeting of the Apex Committee of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was also held in Jaipur on 7 September. It was chaired by Bhupendra Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Background to the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 19 December 2019 to celebrate 7 September every year as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is celebrated as Swach Vayu Diwas in India.
The first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was observed worldwide on 7 September 2020.

Theme of 2024 Swach Vayu Diwas

The Theme of the 2024 International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies or the Swach Vayu Diwas is “Invest in clean air now.”

Who attended the 2024 Swacch Vayu Diwas function?

The 2024 Swacch Vayu Diwas function in Jaipur was attended by Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sanjay Sharma, the Minister of State for Forest, Environment & Climate Change of the Government of Rajasthan, and other dignitaries.

On the occasion, the Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award was presented to the winners of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Winners of 2024 Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award

Bhupender Yadav and Bhajan Lal Sharma conferred the prizes to the winner of the 2024 Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award for cities under NCAP.

The Municipal Commissioners of the winning cities were awarded cash prizes, trophies, and a certificate.

This award was given to cities participating in the National Clean Air Programme for their performance in reducing air pollution and improving air quality in their cities.

Category 1 Award (for cities with a population of over 10 lakhs)

Winner Cites- Surat (Gujarat), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), and Agra (Uttar Pradesh);

Category-2 (population between 3 and 10 Lakhs)

Winner cities -Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh), Amravati(Maharashtra), and Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh); and

Category-3 (population under 3 Lakhs)

Winner cities - Raebareli(Uttar Pradesh), Nalgonda (Telangana), and Nalagarh(Himachal Pradesh).

About NACP

The government of India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019 to reduce air pollution in identified cities.

It includes 131 non-attainment and million-plus population cities in 24 States and Union Territories.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change administers the NCAP.

Targets under the NACP

The goal is to reduce the concentration of PM2.5(particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) by 20 to 30 per cent by 2024.
Target to reduce by up to 40 per cent the concentration of PM10(particulate matter of diameter between 10 and 2.5 micrometres) by 2025-26.
The base year of the pollution level is 2017.

Non-Attainment Cities

Non-attainment cities are those that consistently do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 10 (Particulate matter 10 microns or less in diameter) or N02 (Nitrogen Dioxide) over a period of five years.