India will be able to improve average life expectancy by 1.3 years and reduce concentrations of PM 2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 microns, or fine respirable particles) to 40 micrograms per cubic metre by implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), according to a new analysis by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

NCAP, launched by Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan earlier this month, aims to cut the concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) in 102 non-attainment cities (cities which didn’t meet the annual PM 10 national standard from 2011 to 2015) by 20% to 30% by 2024 compared with the 2017 annual average. It aims for a “participatory and collaborative” …