India Celebrates Swachh Vayu Diwas with NCAP Awards 2024

India celebrated Clean Air Day on September 7, 2024, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The event, also known as Swachh Vayu Diwas, aimed to encourage investment in clean air. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has made significant progress in 131 cities.

International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2024

Observed on September 7, 2024, in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Also known as Swachh Vayu Diwas in India
Theme: "Invest in clean air now"
Attended by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma
Hosted by Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board
Part of a UN resolution passed in December 2019
First observed worldwide in 2020

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Achievements

Video presentation showcasing NCAP progress in 131 cities
95 cities reported declining air pollution trends
51 cities achieved over 20% reduction in PM10 levels since 2017-18
21 cities surpassed 40% reduction in PM10 levels
Release of "Compendium on Viable Technologies and Practices: Lessons from NCAP cities"
NCAP launched in January 2019 to reduce air pollution in non-attainment cities
Covers 131 cities across 24 states and union territories
Targets: 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 by 2024, 40% reduction in PM10 by 2025-26 (base year 2017)

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards 2024

Awards presented in three categories based on population:

a) Category 1 (over 10 lakh population):

Winners: Surat (Gujarat), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Agra (Uttar Pradesh)

b) Category 2 (3-10 lakh population):

Winners: Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh), Amravati (Maharashtra), Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

c) Category 3 (under 3 lakh population):

Winners: Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Nalgonda (Telangana), Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh)
Municipal Commissioners received cash prizes, trophies, and certificates
Awards recognize cities' efforts in reducing air pollution and improving air quality

Key Initiatives and Statements

Planting of 100 saplings under "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign at Jaipur's Matri Van

Union Minister Yadav emphasized:

- Need for multi-stakeholder partnerships
- Importance of investing in clean air
- Encouraged youth participation in Ideas4LiFE campaign

Rajasthan CM Sharma highlighted:

- Planting of over 7 crore saplings in the state
- Plans for electric buses and a 'Green Growth Budget'
- Importance of holistic eco-friendly lifestyles
4th meeting of NCAP's Apex Committee chaired by Minister Yadav
Focus on improving air quality in five non-attainment cities in Rajasthan

Skill India Training Schemes 2025

The Skill India training schemes have played a pivotal role in shaping India’s youth into a skilled and job-ready workforce. As the country celebrates a decade of the Skill India Mission, th

India’s 2nd Longest Serving PM in History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a new political milestone by becoming India’s second-longest-serving PM. On July 25, 2025, he surpassed Indira Gandhi’s record of

India Tests ULPGM‑V3 Drone Missile

India has taken a significant leap in indigenous defence capabilities with the successful flight trials of the ULPGM‑V3 missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (D

Centralised Disaster Response in India

The Government of India has recently constituted the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to ensure a centralised disaster response in India. This step comes in the wake of severe monsoon-t

SBI World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025

The State Bank of India (SBI) has been named the SBI World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 by the reputed Global Finance magazine, marking a historic achievement for India’s largest public b

India’s First Mining Tourism Project

India’s First Mining Tourism has officially begun in Jharkhand, setting a national benchmark in promoting eco-tourism, industrial heritage, and educational experiences through guided mine to

Vice President Election 2025 Begin

The Vice President Election in India has become a major topic of discussion in 2025 after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar before completing his term. For SSC aspirants, understanding the Vice

Bills of Lading Bill 2025

The New Shipping Law India, officially titled the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, was recently passed by the Indian Parliament. This law replaces the outdated Indian Bill of Lading Act of 1856, aiming

2 Lakh Join LIC Women Agent Scheme 2025

The LIC Women Agent Scheme is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India on December 9, 2024, in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). This scheme is designed to

ICMR Malaria Vaccine for India’s Health

The ICMR malaria vaccine initiative marks a breakthrough in India’s mission to eliminate malaria by 2030. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced the commercialisation of