Union Budget 2026 Reduces Air Pollution Fund for Delhi; Experts Raise Concerns

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the 2026-27 budget on Sunday, but the allocation for air pollution control has raised concerns among environmental experts. The government has allocated ₹1,091 crore for pollution control in 2026-27, ₹209 crore less than the revised estimate of ₹1,300 crore in 2025-26.

Funding Cuts for Delhi and NCR
The allocation falls under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which funds pollution boards, committees, and initiatives to reduce particulate matter in non-attainment cities. NCAP monitors air quality in 82 cities across India. Experts have criticized the budget for not providing targeted allocations for the regions most affected by severe air pollution, particularly Delhi-NCR and Northern India.

Expert Opinions

• Sunil Dahiya, an environmentalist, said the budget fails to address regional air pollution crises and lacks dedicated funding for Delhi-NCR, where repeated health emergencies occur due to pollution. He highlighted the absence of strong policies and financial support to curb emissions, including insufficient support for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
• Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), expressed similar concerns, stating that the allocation does not match the scale of the crisis. She noted that the cut raises doubts about how NCAP 2.0 can be expanded without proportional central funding.
• Amit Gupta, environmental activist, called the budget “highly disappointing,” pointing out a nearly ₹200 crore reduction in NCAP allocation. He also noted that in FY 2024-25, only ₹16 crore was spent out of a ₹900 crore allocation.

Partial Increases in Other Environmental Areas
While the overall pollution fund has been reduced, allocations for other environmental initiatives have risen:

• Commission for Air Quality Management: ₹35.26 crore, up ₹4 crore
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): ₹123 crore, up from ₹116.2 crore
• Environment Education, Awareness, Research, and Skill Development: ₹104 crore, up ₹29 crore
• Environment Knowledge and Capacity Building: ₹102.7 crore, up ₹33.8 crore

Calls for Stronger Measures
Experts emphasized the need for faster adoption of EVs, robust fast-charging infrastructure, and comprehensive air pollution strategies. Aarti Khosla, founder of Climate Trends, noted that while rooftop solar allocations are record-high, stronger measures are needed to address Delhi’s severe air quality challenges and protect public health.

Conclusion
While the budget shows a commitment to clean energy and environmental education, the reduction in funds for targeted air pollution control has left experts questioning whether the plan is adequate to tackle India’s most polluted regions.