Rising AQI highlights urgent need for industrial transformation and carbon capture technologies

India’s air quality index (AQI) has been in the headlines for all the bad reasons. From the hazy winters in the national capital to the worsening conditions in the smaller cities, the air quality is the talk of the town and is becoming a national emergency. 

AQI is the measurement that reflects the concentration of eight air pollutants—PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and lead. 

Industrial emissions: The elephant in the room

Among the major contributors to the country’s poor air quality, industrial emissions are both significant and under-addressed. 

According to a recent report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, Indian industries contribute around 30% to India’s particulate matter pollution. These industrial emissions come from all kinds of industries like industrial clusters, cement production, steel manufacturing and chemical plants. Despite being the point sources, they have received disproportionately low policy attention and funds allotment.

Severe+ AQI and India’s global standing

AQI levels in India often cross the hazardous mark in many urban centres, placing them in the Severe+ category. This not only endangers public health, which leads to respiratory and cardiovascular issues, but it also tarnishes India’s standing on global environmental platforms. A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reveals that 21 out of 24 recordings in Bihar alone exceed PM2.5 than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

National Clean Air Programmme

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2019, has been extended to 2026, with a revised target of a 40% reduction in PM10 levels compared to 2017. 

However, the policy focus remains skewed. Despite industries contributing significantly to pollution, there was a mere 1% fund utilisation under NCAP and the 15th Finance Commission, while 64% of funds were spent on road dust mitigation. 

Industrial transformation and carbon capture

India has made commendable progress in expanding its air quality monitoring network. As of May 27, 2025, the number of ‘continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations’ reached 562 across 294 cities. 

To combat industrial pollution, India must shift toward cleaner technologies. The traditional end-of-pipe technologies like electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers, and catalytic reduction systems offer some relief, but long-term gains lie in systemic transformation. 

Carbon capture technologies present a promising solution. While traditional air pollution control targets pollutants like PM10, carbon capture specifically focuses on capturing invisible greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Capturing industrial CO2 at the source prevents it from reaching the atmosphere and contributing to climate change, which can exacerbate air pollution as they are intertwined and influence each other. 

The implementation of carbon capture technologies across cement and steel plants, which are one of India’s major polluting sectors, can be a game changer. The Indian government has already initiated steps to launch the first cluster of carbon capture test beds for the cement industry with an academia-industry collaboration. These are expected to provide scalable blueprints for broader adoption across sectors.

India’s fight for clean air requires a paradigm shift to have a proactive transformation. Industrial emissions are a manageable source of pollution and offer good returns in terms of cleaner air outcomes. 

With strengthened regulatory oversight, judicious funds utilisation under NCAP, industrial transformation to cleaner processes, and accelerated adoption of carbon capture technologies, the country can reduce its severe air quality. 

The author is Director - Technical & Innovation, Sustain Labs Paris, a sustainability and climate-focused venture builder.