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1. According to WHO, Delhi is most air polluted city in the world. Air quality in India is measured with the index called Air Quality Index. What is Air Quality Index in India? Who developed it? What the six categories and eight pollutants? What are the criticism of this Air Quality Index recently developed in India? (250 Words)
Would it be possible to post 5 questions (only question) rather than just one for each day to keep some time for revision of these?....the answers can be posted or discussed as the time permits along the way?...that way we can have a ready set of 100 questions around month before to revise?
1. According to WHO, Delhi is most air polluted city in the world. Air quality in India is measured with the index called Air Quality Index. What is Air Quality Index in India? Who developed it? What the six categories and eight pollutants? What are the criticism of this Air Quality Index recently developed in India? (250 Words)
NATIONAL AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI) National Air Quality Index (AQI) will put out real time data about the level of pollutants in the air and inform people about the possible impacts on health. The AQI is a global standard. It takes multiple data on pollution already available with the country’s Central Pollution Control Board and presents them as a colour-coded scale with six levels. India now grades air quality along a colour-coded chart based on pollutant levels.
COMPOSITION Dark green, the first level, indicates good air quality while Maroon at the other end indicates severe pollution. For each category, the index identifies associated health impacts. Example, for maroonMay cause respiratory impact even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease
The National Air Quality Index gives current as well as 24-hour average data On particulate matter – PM2.5(very fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) On PM 10(less than 10 micrometers in diameter) As well as other pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide
PM 2.5 levels are commonly used as the best indicator of severe air pollution, while PM 10 particles are also a cause of public health concern, but less lethal The new index will initially cover 10 cities — Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — each of which would have monitoring stations with AQI display boards. The aim was to eventually deploy the index in all cities with a population of over one million.
WHY THIS INITIATIVE? The government has been under immense pressure to take a strong stand on air pollution after a World Health Organization study of 1,600 cities released last year showed that Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital. In 2014, the World Health Organisation compiled average annual PM 2.5 numbers for over 1600 cities across the world, including 124 from India. Delhi had the worst air quality in the world by that estimate, but 12 other Indian cities were among the world’s worst 20 – Patna, Gwalior, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Firozabad, Kanpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Allahabad, Agra and Khanna. Another study, conducted by economists and public policy experts from the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago, Yale and Harvard University, found that India’s poor air quality reduces the lifespan of the average citizen by 3.2 years.
PURPOSE It will inform people about daily air quality with simple descriptions that people can understand. The Air Quality Index may prove to be a major impetus to improving air quality in urban areas, as it will improve public awareness in cities to take steps for air pollution mitigation. This can help build public awareness as well as public support for hard decisions needed to get cleaner air. No preventives However, in stark contrast with other countries that have air quality warning systems, India does not yet have a mechanism or measures in place to bring down peak pollution levels. Beijing for instance, puts in motion a slew of operations when the warning signal for severe pollution is issued. On such days kindergartens, primary and middle schools close, there is a cap on the number of cars allowed on the roads and polluting factories either cut down emissions or shut down completely. In Paris when the air quality index rose recently, the city made public transport free and removed almost 50 per cent of the vehicles off the road. The Centre’s move to provide real time data on air quality in some of India’s bigger cities brings policy focus to a key social determinant of health. The National Air Quality Index launched is a work in progress, as the quality of data from some cities remains weak, monitoring stations are not fully equipped and the standards set for pollutants fall short of World Health Organization recommendations. In the case of Particulate Matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter — among the more hazardous pollutants — the WHO has a recommended average level of 10 micrograms per cubic metre, and an interim target of 40mcg/m{+3}{+.} By contrast, India’s tolerance limit for a “good” rating for fine particulates is 50. The air people breathe in many cities is very unhealthy, the values for respirable particulate matter far exceeding even the lax threshold. As the global experience shows, escalating pollution levels accompany heightened economic activity, but an informed policy response reduces the progression. That is the challenge: to make wealthy polluters pay, and expand green alternatives for all through attractive incentives. A supportive framework is vital to achieving the lifestyle change that Mr. Modi advocates as a solution. WAY FORWARD The public health consequences of this neglect of pollution by governments are the premature deaths of over 620,000 people each year, ill-health for thousands, and loss of economic productivity. Poor air quality is linked to specific areas of activity — a sharp rise in motorisation, particularly involving the use of diesel as fuel, coal burning, and construction work, to name a few. Diesels vehicles are major source of pollution in the ambient air quality. countries like Brazil, China, Denmark, Srilanka, Paris are in process of doing away with diesel vehicles or imposing very heavy taxes. Rampant unchecked construction in urban area is adding dust to the air which when combines with particulate matter turn into lethal mix. The National Green Tribunal banned all diesel vehicles over ten years old from plying in Delhi and the National Capital Region and also cracked the whip on rampant construction activity adding dust to the air. In Delhi, rated by some surveys as having the world’s worst air quality, the Metro rail network is growing, but so is the use of personal cars. Yet, the government is not disincentivising their use through congestion charging, which would also generate much-needed funds for the growth of modern bus and rail systems; the existence of a National Urban Transport Policy has not made a difference either. The National Green Tribunal has ordered that diesel vehicles over 10 years old not ply on Delhi roads. This is a positive measure, but those affected should get a reasonable opportunity to make alternative arrangements. The government has also failed to grasp the potential of bicycles as a clean mobility solution, and cities are hostile to their users. Coal burning for power generation can be reduced if rooftop solar power is promoted through a national scheme. U.S. cities are leasing out to homes solar panels. It is such smart solutions that can dramatically improve the air in urban India, without affecting the high quality of life that citizens aspire for.
Would it be possible to post 5 questions (only question) rather than just one for each day to keep some time for revision of these?....the answers can be posted or discussed as the time permits along the way?...that way we can have a ready set of 100 questions around month before to revise?
i can post more questions, but people wont participate when questions are too much
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Comments
Would it be possible to post 5 questions (only question) rather than just one for each day to keep some time for revision of these?....the answers can be posted or discussed as the time permits along the way?...that way we can have a ready set of 100 questions around month before to revise?
http://m.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/centres-move-on-national-air-quality-index/article7078261.ece
http://m.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/indias-air-quality-index-reality-check-on-air-quality/article7426092.ece
National Air Quality Index (AQI) will put out real time data about the level of pollutants in the air and inform people about the possible impacts on health.
The AQI is a global standard.
It takes multiple data on pollution already available with the country’s Central Pollution Control Board and presents them as a colour-coded scale with six levels.
India now grades air quality along a colour-coded chart based on pollutant levels.
COMPOSITION
Dark green, the first level, indicates good air quality while Maroon at the other end indicates severe pollution.
For each category, the index identifies associated health impacts.
Example, for maroonMay cause respiratory impact even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease
The National Air Quality Index gives current as well as 24-hour average data
On particulate matter – PM2.5(very fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter)
On PM 10(less than 10 micrometers in diameter)
As well as other pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide
PM 2.5 levels are commonly used as the best indicator of severe air pollution, while PM 10 particles are also a cause of public health concern, but less lethal
The new index will initially cover 10 cities — Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — each of which would have monitoring stations with AQI display boards.
The aim was to eventually deploy the index in all cities with a population of over one million.
WHY THIS INITIATIVE?
The government has been under immense pressure to take a strong stand on air pollution after a World Health Organization study of 1,600 cities released last year showed that Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital.
In 2014, the World Health Organisation compiled average annual PM 2.5 numbers for over 1600 cities across the world, including 124 from India. Delhi had the worst air quality in the world by that estimate, but 12 other Indian cities were among the world’s worst 20 – Patna, Gwalior, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Firozabad, Kanpur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Allahabad, Agra and Khanna.
Another study, conducted by economists and public policy experts from the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago, Yale and Harvard University, found that India’s poor air quality reduces the lifespan of the average citizen by 3.2 years.
PURPOSE
It will inform people about daily air quality with simple descriptions that people can understand.
The Air Quality Index may prove to be a major impetus to improving air quality in urban areas, as it will improve public awareness in cities to take steps for air pollution mitigation. This can help build public awareness as well as public support for hard decisions needed to get cleaner air.
No preventives
However, in stark contrast with other countries that have air quality warning systems, India does not yet have a mechanism or measures in place to bring down peak pollution levels.
Beijing for instance, puts in motion a slew of operations when the warning signal for severe pollution is issued. On such days kindergartens, primary and middle schools close, there is a cap on the number of cars allowed on the roads and polluting factories either cut down emissions or shut down completely.
In Paris when the air quality index rose recently, the city made public transport free and removed almost 50 per cent of the vehicles off the road.
The Centre’s move to provide real time data on air quality in some of India’s bigger cities brings policy focus to a key social determinant of health.
The National Air Quality Index launched is a work in progress, as the quality of data from some cities remains weak, monitoring stations are not fully equipped and the standards set for pollutants fall short of World Health Organization recommendations.
In the case of Particulate Matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter — among the more hazardous pollutants — the WHO has a recommended average level of 10 micrograms per cubic metre, and an interim target of 40mcg/m{+3}{+.}
By contrast, India’s tolerance limit for a “good” rating for fine particulates is 50. The air people breathe in many cities is very unhealthy, the values for respirable particulate matter far exceeding even the lax threshold.
As the global experience shows, escalating pollution levels accompany heightened economic activity, but an informed policy response reduces the progression. That is the challenge: to make wealthy polluters pay, and expand green alternatives for all through attractive incentives.
A supportive framework is vital to achieving the lifestyle change that Mr. Modi advocates as a solution.
WAY FORWARD
The public health consequences of this neglect of pollution by governments are the premature deaths of over 620,000 people each year, ill-health for thousands, and loss of economic productivity.
Poor air quality is linked to specific areas of activity — a sharp rise in motorisation, particularly involving the use of diesel as fuel, coal burning, and construction work, to name a few.
Diesels vehicles are major source of pollution in the ambient air quality. countries like Brazil, China, Denmark, Srilanka, Paris are in process of doing away with diesel vehicles or imposing very heavy taxes.
Rampant unchecked construction in urban area is adding dust to the air which when combines with particulate matter turn into lethal mix.
The National Green Tribunal banned all diesel vehicles over ten years old from plying in Delhi and the National Capital Region and also cracked the whip on rampant construction activity adding dust to the air.
In Delhi, rated by some surveys as having the world’s worst air quality, the Metro rail network is growing, but so is the use of personal cars.
Yet, the government is not disincentivising their use through congestion charging, which would also generate much-needed funds for the growth of modern bus and rail systems; the existence of a National Urban Transport Policy has not made a difference either.
The National Green Tribunal has ordered that diesel vehicles over 10 years old not ply on Delhi roads. This is a positive measure, but those affected should get a reasonable opportunity to make alternative arrangements.
The government has also failed to grasp the potential of bicycles as a clean mobility solution, and cities are hostile to their users.
Coal burning for power generation can be reduced if rooftop solar power is promoted through a national scheme.
U.S. cities are leasing out to homes solar panels. It is such smart solutions that can dramatically improve the air in urban India, without affecting the high quality of life that citizens aspire for.
http://iasscore.in/current-affairs-topics.php
You have to re-arrange the answer as per the questions! Dont worry, I will share model answer tailor made for the question!!