Delhi's Smog: Beijing's blueprint, India's policy gaps

• Delhi's air quality is severely polluted (AQI around 305), drawing comparisons to Beijing's past pollution and subsequent clean-up success.
• Beijing significantly improved its air quality through strong political will, legally binding targets, industrial crackdowns, and linking officials' career progression to environmental outcomes.
• In contrast, India's National Clean Air Programme relies on non-binding targets, and recent policy changes relaxed pollution control requirements for coal power plants.
• China's centralized governance allowed for effective regional pollution control, while India's federal structure leads to fragmented responsibility and political disputes over air quality issues.
• Delhi's geography, characterized by low-lying plains and weak winter winds, traps pollutants, a natural disadvantage compared to Beijing's natural ventilation.

Why It Matters: Beijing's air cleanup shows India how strong political will can tackle pollution.