Air quality standards: Revision remains pending after five-year review process

India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), last revised in 2009, remain unchanged as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) continues to review recommendations for updated pollution thresholds. Reportedly, according to a response to an RTI query dated October 26, 2026, a revised report submitted by IIT Kanpur on December 16, 2025, remains under consideration by a steering committee constituted in May 2020. The review is intended to assess existing pollutant limits and consider additional parameters in light of evolving scientific evidence.