As India moves steadily toward market-based approaches for industrial pollution control, the role of credible, real-time emissions data has never been more critical. Mechanisms like the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) promise cost-effective pollution reduction and incentivise the stakeholders, but only if they are built on data that regulators and industry alike can trust.

This question of data credibility was at the heart of the Workshop cum Capacity Building Programme on Strengthening Implementation of Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS), organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI), Tijara, from January 21–23, 2026. For me, the forum came at a particularly timely moment, both in terms of India’s expanding experience with emissions markets from Surat, a basic understanding of CEMS data and their monitoring protocols and my own work supporting the implementation of ETS in Rajasthan.

Why this workshop mattered the most

What stood out immediately was how relevant the workshop’s focus was to the current phase of India’s pollution market journey and how reliable the data collection from CEMS devices was. As more states explore emissions trading and performance-based regulation, the conversation is shifting from whether markets can work to how they can be implemented credibly at scale. CEMS sits right at this intersection, bridging on-ground industrial operations with regulatory oversight and reliable data monitoring for the particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.

The workshop brought together regulators, technical experts, and practitioners from across states, creating space for fruitful discussions on what is working, what is not, and where the real bottlenecks lie in terms of CEMS monitoring and auditing.

CEMS as the backbone of emissions trading

During the workshop, I had the opportunity to present on “How CEMS can support the Emissions Trading System.” Rather than treating CEMS as just another compliance requirement, my presentation focused on reframing emissions data as a market asset.

I reflected on three core ideas that are central to making ETS work in practice:

• Why markets need flexibility: Unlike traditional command-and-control regulations, emissions trading allows industries with lower abatement costs to reduce more and trade permits, delivering the same environmental outcome at lower overall cost.
• CEMS as the source of truth: For a pollution market to be fair and functional, emissions data must be continuous, tamper-proof, and auditable. CEMS enables this high-frequency data flow, converting stack measurements into emission loads that markets can rely on.
• The three pillars of ETS success: A market cap, well-designed permits, and a transparent marketplace, all of which ultimately depend on robust CEMS data.

Sharing these ideas with regulators and industry participants and engaging with their questions was a valuable reminder that technical design choices have very real implications on trust and participation in markets.

Learning from practice: Surat and beyond

One of the most engaging parts of the discussion was around real-world experience. Drawing on examples like the Surat PM ETS, I reflected on how India’s first pollution market has demonstrated tangible results both in emissions reductions and compliance cost savings.

Equally important were the lessons beyond technology: the need for strong regulatory capacity, automated data checks, and systems that build confidence among all participants. These themes resonated strongly with experiences shared by State Pollution Control Boards from Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir, each navigating unique industrial and institutional contexts.

Officials from Odisha and Rajasthan also participated in the discussion, highlighting the potential of AI-based technologies for routine monitoring of CEMS data. These tools can offer timely indications for action and significantly improve efficiency. The growing use of AI and ML in monitoring reflects a forward-looking approach in an era of rapidly advancing technology.

Beyond my own presentation, the three-day programme offered a 360-degree view of the CEMS ecosystem from equipment suitability and maintenance to data acquisition systems, validation protocols, and certification standards. Sessions led by Scientists from CPCB and Experts from Industries reinforced how much progress has been made, while also underscoring the work still needed to move from data collection to meaningful regulatory action.

Participating in this workshop provided a valuable moment to step back from day-to-day project work and reflect on the convergence of technical systems, regulatory institutions, and industrial expertise. It reaffirmed the importance of collaboration across states, between regulators and researchers, and in bridging policy intent with on-ground implementation. For me, this reflection has been particularly useful in rethinking how we engage with regulators and design implementation support around CEMS within ongoing ETS work. The conversations also brought renewed focus to the fundamentals of CEMS, which can sometimes be overlooked in routine workflows.

As we continue our work at EPIC India on emissions markets and data-driven regulation, the conversations and connections from Tijara will directly inform how we think about scaling these instruments across sectors and geographies. If India’s pollution markets are to succeed, they will be built not just on policy ambition, but on credible data, and workshops like this play a crucial role in strengthening that foundation.