Experts at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have found major flaws in the Centre’s Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan, a survey that ranks cities on air quality. They say the rankings do not reflect what is happening on the ground and want the system scrapped.
Prof Ashish Verma, Convenor of the IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab, said the survey does not treat the Air Quality Index (AQI) as a key parameter. Instead, it looks at actions taken and the relative change in PM10. He said this creates a false perception.
Lucknow shows the problem. It was one of the top performers in 2025-26, scoring nearly 198 out of 200. Yet its AQI was 374, which is “Very Poor”, in December 2025.
The review also points to conflicts of interest. Urban local bodies implement the programme, collect the data, assess themselves and receive the prizes. There is no independent field verification.
Other flaws include:
- a) Marks for industrial emissions, road dust and bundled categories are allocated in a way that penalises industrial towns and benefits other cities.
- b) The ranking does not use actual pollutant concentration or the CPCB’s AQI.
- c) It leaves out agricultural residue burning, secondary PM2.5 formation and precursor gas monitoring.
The researchers have written to the Union environment minister. They want the framework scrapped and rolled back. If the ministry keeps it, they suggest renaming it the Swachh Vayu Action Plan Implementation Ranking. They also want a new framework with third-party field audits, satellite data cross-checks and citizen participation. In it, ambient AQI performance should carry at least 50% of the weight.
Verma said people in high-scoring cities like Lucknow will believe they are breathing fresh air. He said the flawed system is playing with people’s lives.
Source: Deccan Herald
