Union Budget 2026: Government plans these key steps to tackle Delhi pollution, say sources

The upcoming Union Budget is expected to place a strong emphasis on tackling Delhi’s worsening air quality, with a series of measures likely to be announced to curb pollution across major urban centres, as per Zee Business sources. .

The Budget might show specific funding with the aim of lessening the increasing pollution levels in Delhi and that of other cities struggling with very poor air quality.

One of the main priorities is the electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the new incentives and policy support expected to come alongside the government’s clean mobility push, which is larger than the previous one.

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Budget likely to push clean fuel transition for Delhi industries

The government may take a tougher stance on industrial pollution in the national capital. Companies contributing significantly to pollution in Delhi could be directed to shift to cleaner fuels.

In this context, a proposal to convert around 3,500 industrial units to clean fuel alternatives is said to be under active consideration and could receive approval in the Budget.

Stringent emission standards, shifting plans to cleaner energy sources, or subsidising the installation of pollution-control technologies might be some of the measures.

Delhi’s AQI turns alarming

Air pollution in Delhi-NCR continues to worsen, with Air Quality Index (AQI) levels crossing the 300 mark, placing the region in the ‘Very Poor’ category. In several parts of the national capital, pollution levels have slipped into the ‘Severe’ range, underlining persistently hazardous conditions for public health.

The alarming AQI readings in Delhi-NCR show Delhi’s pollution crisis and could be one of the key reasons why the Union Budget is expected to place a special focus on measures to tackle air pollution in the capital.

Several Delhi areas record ‘severe’ AQI levels

According to data from the Centre Pollution Control Board, multiple locations across Delhi have reported dangerously high AQI levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 366, while Bawana stood at 361. The situation in Jahangirpuri is alarming as the AQI surged to 420, firmly placing it in the ‘Severe’ category.

Health professionals are cautioning that continuous breathing of air with such quality levels could be a grave threat to health, mainly to infants, old people, and people with respiratory diseases.

Cold wave adds to pollution impact, health concerns increase

Delhi is suffering from both worsening air quality and extreme cold conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) gave a warning for a sudden fall in temperature and recorded 3–4 degrees Celsius in some areas, which could be interpreted as one of the coldest mornings of the season.

The Indian Meteorological Department indicates that cold wave conditions are here to stay, and the situation will not improve anytime soon.

The extremely low temperatures, along with the highly polluted air, are completely unbearable, and people who usually go for morning walks, outdoor workers, and children going to school have been advised to be cautious. Also, it is recommended that people suffering from diseases stay at home as much as possible.

Hospitals reporting a gradual increase in the number of patients who are having difficulty breathing and suffering from cold-related diseases.

The AQI numbers and deteriorating ground scenario make it clearer that stronger policy intervention is really needed, which in turn possibly leads to the expectation from the next Union Budget that it will provide detailed measures to combat the pollution crisis in Delhi.