Bengaluru: Already grappling with dust and vehicular emissions, Bengaluru’s air quality has taken a further hit, with the city slipping from 28th to 36th spot in the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025 rankings released by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC).

The rankings, part of the government’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) review, assess how effectively cities are reducing pollution levels. Unlike several other metros that reported gains in the category of urban centres with populations above 10 lakh, Bengaluru saw a sharp decline due to rising PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations.

NCAP targets and Bengaluru’s fall

Launched in 2019, NCAP aims to cut particulate matter levels by 20–30% by 2026 against the 2017–18 baseline. Bengaluru, however, has struggled to stay on track.

In 2024, the city scored 170.6 points, ranking 28th nationwide. This year, the score dropped to 145.1, pushing the city down to 36th place. The fall comes despite measures like electric vehicle (EV) adoption, tighter enforcement against open waste burning, and efforts to control biomass combustion.

Officials from MoEFCC and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) attributed the setback largely to vehicular emissions and road dust. With more than 1.5 crore registered vehicles and thousands more entering daily from neighbouring districts, traffic congestion continues to drive up both nitrogen oxides and particulate matter pollution.

Vehicles remain biggest polluters

A 2025 progress report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that:

  • Vehicles account for 40% of total emissions,
  • Road and crustal dust contribute another 25%,
  • Industrial activities, construction dust, and domestic sources make up the rest.

Experts stressed that rapid motorisation, outdated vehicle management, and weak road infrastructure have worsened pollution levels.

Adding to the concern, a study by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) revealed that Karnataka is the largest contributor to vehicular PM2.5 emissions in India. The state emits 13.6 gigagrams annually, surpassing Uttar Pradesh (13.4 Gg) and Tamil Nadu (13 Gg). Heavy-duty trucks and goods carriers were flagged as the most significant contributors.

Weak governance and coordination issues

While adoption of EVs and crackdowns on open burning show progress, analysts say poor inter-departmental coordination has derailed implementation.

In particular, weak synergy between Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has slowed down the utilisation of NCAP funds meant for air quality improvement projects.

“Funds are being allocated, but lack of clarity on responsibilities between departments delays execution,” an environmental policy researcher noted.

Way forward

Experts recommend that Bengaluru urgently strengthen:

  • Public transport networks to reduce private vehicle dependence,
  • Vehicle emission management, including stricter inspections,
  • Dust control measures on roads and construction sites,
  • Data-driven planning, using real-time monitoring to guide policies.

With the city preparing to expand its metro network and roll out more EV infrastructure, environmentalists warn that unless governance gaps are fixed, Bengaluru risks missing NCAP’s 2026 targets.