Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

Hyderabad grapples with killer air as ground-level ozone soars

HYDERABAD: The city's air quality is again in news for the wrong reason. A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed that the city is grappling with high levels of ground-level ozone, a pollutant often overlooked in air quality discussions. Of 14 monitoring stations across the city, a staggering 10 recorded ozone levels above the WHO's recommended limit of 100 g/m³ between Jan 1 and July 18 this year. Surprisingly, the highest eight-hour average wasn't found in Hyderabad's industrial zones, but in the residential area of Sanathnagar, where levels spiked to 150.9 g/m³. This was closely followed by ICRISAT Patancheru with 145.9 g/m³ and ECIL Kapra with 140.8 g/m³. These figures were part of a study titled 'Air Quality Tracker: Ground-level Ozone' by CSE researchers Anumita Roychowdhury, Avikal Somvanshi and Sharanjeet Kaur, which analysed ozone levels in 10 major metropolitan regions in India. Delhi-NCR tops the list with 176 days of ozone exceedance, followed by Mumbai-MMR and Pune with 138 days. Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Ahmedabad also struggle with 96 exceedance days, but Hyderabad stands out with a 115% increase in exceedance days compared to last year. Ground-level ozone isn't emitted from a single source. It is formed by a complex interaction between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds emitted by vehicles, power plants and factories. These compounds undergo cyclic reactions in presence of sunlight, producing ozone that remains in the air we breathe. Call for more monitoring stns Environmentalists stressed the need for a broader focus on ozone pollution, noting it accounts for 20-30% of Hyderabad's total pollution, followed by PM 2.5 and PM 10. "With more stations, we might find even higher ozone levels in Hyderabad. Delhi has nearly 58 stations, which is why their numbers are so comprehensive," said Narsimha Reddy Donthi, an environmentalist.

Death From Sky: Lightning Kills 1,876 People Annually In India, Study Reveals

Lucknow: Lightning in India has emerged as one of the most lethal and challenging natural hazards. Over the past 54 years, lightning has caused a total of 101,309 human fatalities, averaging 1,876 deaths annually. This was revealed in a study titled: “Lightning-related fatalities in India (1967-2020): A detailed overview of pattern and trends” carried out by Manoranjan Mishra, Tamoghna Acharya, Rajkumar Guria, Nihar Ranjan Rout and others. Lightning fatality data from 1967 to 2020 (53 years) across the Indian states were collected from the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). The NCRB provides the longest available time series of gender-disaggregated lightning fatality data. The data highlights an increasing trend, with the last two decades showing the highest increase, an alarming development. The rising trend of extreme climate conditions will likely exacerbate the situation in a country like India. “The increase in recorded lightning deaths in the last 20 years can be attributed to both improved recording methods of lightning deaths and the effects of climate change,” Mishra told this reporter. The analysis reveals that Madhya Pradesh registered the highest number of deaths, followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Explaining more deaths in MP than in UP, the most populated state in India Mishra said “It all depends on cloud-to-ground activity and exposure of the population during that time. The relation is non-linear.” Ongoing research indicates that Central and Eastern India have the highest incidence of lightning, with Northeast India showing an increase since 2001. States like Madhya Pradesh, which lack substantial disaster management institutions at the state or local level, need serious and immediate attention, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh need to develop and implement a scientific, evidence-based action plan, the study said. Furthermore, states including Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu must continue and intensify their lightning risk management efforts. Sunita Narain, director-general of the Center for Science and Environment, said global warming plays a role in the rising number of lightning strikes. A one-degree Celsius rise in temperature increases lightning by 12 times. She said that deforestation, the depletion of bodies of water, and pollution all contribute to climate change, which leads to more lightning. Gender disparity There is marked gender disparity among lightning strike fatalities in India, underscoring the variable impact across genders. Specifically, Punjab and Haryana exhibit the highest male fatality rates, at 86% and 80% respectively, starkly contrasting with Kerala, where the gender gap narrows, with male fatalities constituting 65% and female fatalities 35%. The findings highlight the distinct vulnerabilities and exposures of men and women to lightning hazards, suggesting that socio-cultural factors, occupational exposure, and behavioral patterns, which differ markedly between genders across various regions, likely contribute to this disparity. Mitigation The study says that lightning, while an inherent natural hazard, has a considerable potential for mitigation. This can be substantially achieved through a research and knowledge-based community-centric approach, complemented by collective actions, as opposed to a solely bureaucratic approach. “The emphasis should be on enhancing public awareness and sensitization through preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and capacity building. The essence of success in reducing lightning-related fatalities and injuries lies in two critical aspects – firstly, implementing local research and knowledge-based actions, and secondly, undertaking aggressive capacity building before and during high-risk periods such as Kal baishakhi, pre-monsoon, and monsoon seasons,” the study said.

Ozone Pollution: देश के 10 बड़े राज्यों में तेजी से बढ रहा प्रदूषण, CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा

Ozone Pollution तेजी से बढ़ रहा है. देश के 10 बड़े राज्यों में ओजोन प्रदूषण बढ़ा है. इनमें दिल्ली के हरियाली वाले इलाकों में ये तेजी से बढता पाया गया. CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) की रिपोर्ट सामने आई है जिसमें इसका खुलासा हुआ है. Ozone Pollution : देश के 10 बड़े राज्यों में तेजी से बढ रहा प्रदूषण, CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा Ozone Pollution तेजी से बढ़ रहा है. देश के 10 बड़े राज्यों में ओजोन प्रदूषण बढ़ा है. इनमें दिल्ली के हरियाली वाले इलाकों में ये तेजी से बढता पाया गया. CSE की रिपोर्ट सामने आई है जिसमें इसका खुलासा हुआ है.

In the national capital Delhi, vehicles have emerged as the major reason for air

pollution, according to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The CSE study said that vehicles contributed to more than 50% of Delhi's pollution between October 24 and November 8, this year. This is followed by household pollution (13.5%). Industries contributed 9.9% of air pollution while construction activities accounted for 6.9% of pollution in the national capital Clearly, after the closure of all cool-based power plants, the expansion of natural gos usage in industries, and control on dirty fuels, vehicles have emerged as the biggest real-time contributor among the local sources of winter pollution in Delhi this year. Due to poor air quality, there is a rise in cases of sore throat, runny nose, chest infections, allergic reactions and aggravated asthma among the citizens of Delhi. Breathing in air pollutants, blocks your airways and causes serious health problems. Constant exposure may even cause lung cancer. Name a few problems arising in human beings due to air pollution

तेजी से आगे नहीं बढ़ पा रही पीएम कुसुम योजना: रिपोर्ट

नयी दिल्ली, सात अगस्त (भाषा) देश में कृषि क्षेत्र में सौर ऊर्जा को बढ़ावा देने वाली पीएम कुसुम योजना तेजी से आगे नहीं बढ़ पा रही है। योजना के तहत अबतक लक्ष्य का केवल 30 प्रतिशत हासिल किया गया है। एक रिपोर्ट में यह कहा गया है। प्रधानमंत्री किसान ऊर्जा सुरक्षा एवं उत्थान महाभियान (पीएम कुसुम) योजना 2019 में शुरू की गई। योजना का लक्ष्य किसानों को सौर ऊर्जा अपनाने में मदद करना, खेती-बाड़ी को पर्यावरण अनुकूल बनाना और पारंपरिक ऊर्जा स्रोतों पर निर्भरता कम करना है। शोध संस्थान सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट में हरियाणा, पंजाब, राजस्थान और छत्तीसगढ़ में किये गये सर्वेक्षण के अनुसार योजना ने छह साल बाद भी अपने लक्ष्य का केवल 30 प्रतिशत ही हासिल किया है। जबकि लक्ष्य को हासिल करने की समयसीमा 2026 करीब आ रही है।

तेजी से आगे नहीं बढ पा रही पीएम कुसुम योजना: रिपोर्ट

नयी दिल्ली, सात अगस्त (भाषा) देश में कृषि क्षेत्र में सौर ऊर्जा को बढ़ावा देने वाली पीएम कुसुम योजना तेजी से आगे नहीं बढ़ पा रही है। योजना के तहत अबतक लक्ष्य का केवल 30 प्रतिशत हासिल किया गया है। एक रिपोर्ट में यह कहा गया है। प्रधानमंत्री किसान ऊर्जा सुरक्षा एवं उत्थान महाभियान (पीएम कुसुम) योजना 2019 में शुरू की गई। योजना का लक्ष्य किसानों को सौर ऊर्जा अपनाने में मदद करना, खेती-बाड़ी को पर्यावरण अनुकूल बनाना और पारंपरिक ऊर्जा स्रोतों पर निर्भरता कम करना है। शोध संस्थान सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट में हरियाणा, पंजाब, राजस्थान और छत्तीसगढ़ में किये गये सर्वेक्षण के अनुसार योजना ने छह साल बाद भी अपने लक्ष्य का केवल 30 प्रतिशत ही हासिल किया है। जबकि लक्ष्य को हासिल करने की समयसीमा 2026 करीब आ रही है। सीएसई में औद्योगिक प्रदूषण और नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा मामलों के कार्यक्रम निदेशक निवित कुमार यादव ने कहा, ‘‘चूंकि जलवायु परिवर्तन का व्यापक प्रभाव लगातार बढ़ रहा है, ऐसे में खासकर कृषि जैसे प्रमुख क्षेत्रों में पर्यावरण अनुकूल गतिविधियों में निवेश करना पहले से कहीं अधिक महत्वपूर्ण हो गया है।’’

PM KUSUM Scheme Achieved Only 30% Targets in Past 6 Years Since Inception: CSE Study

Patna: Contrary to government claims, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM scheme), has achieved only about 30% of its targets in the past six years since its inception. This was revealed in a study by New Delhi- based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) The PM KUSUM scheme that was introduced in 2019 and to solarise agriculture in India. But it appears that its implementation is slow and lagging. The CSE report, titled "Implementation Challenges of the PM KUSUM Scheme: Case Studies from Selected Indian States", was released on Wednesday in New Delhi, and focuses on gathering data and information, especially from the perspective of farmers on on-ground implementation. The report wonders that with its deadline year – 2026 – approaching fast, will the scheme be able to cover the remaining ground? Nivit Kumar Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution and renewable energy, CSE, said in a webinar: “Our report outlines findings from surveys conducted by CSE in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. With climate change exerting increasing impacts and at scale, it has become all the more critical to invest in sustainable practices, especially in important sectors like agriculture. In such a scenario, schemes like PM-KUSUM can drive India’s climate action – but only if implemented with care and caution.” The scheme is divided into three components, (a) focusing on installation of mini grids on barren lands, (b) installation of off-grid solar water pumps to replace diesel water pumps, and (c) installation of on-grid solar water pumps to replace electric water pumps and installation of mini-grids for agriculture feeder solarisation. Most of the implementation has taken place under component (b), with Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh among the top performing states. Components (a) and (c)have seen minimal implementation, it adds. The report points out that farmers who have opted for solar water pumps are satisfied, as it has enabled them to irrigate their fields during the day. It recounts the testimony of a beneficiary of the PM-KUSUM scheme from Aterna village in Sonipat district of Haryana, who says: “The solar water pump has eased farming activities. We used to get agricultural electricity supply on the basis of a time table set by the state implementing agencies, who would also set the timings during night hours in some weeks. Irrigation of land at night is inconvenient for us farmers. The addition of a solar water pump on our land has meant that we now have the freedom to irrigate our lands during the day without the threat of power cuts.” Farmers who have moved from diesel or electric pumps to solar-powered pumps have found it profitable, but only if the pumps installed are of the correct size. Farmers in Haryana, says the report, are saving up to Rs 55,000 a year after shifting from diesel water pumps to solar variants. One of the principal challenges that the scheme has faced in its implementation, as per the report, has been the availability of cheap electricity for farmers. However, this cheap electricity has its flip side – it leads to increases in a state’s subsidy burden. This access to cheap electricity leads to a lack of incentive for farmers to shift from electric water pumps to solar water pumps, it adds. Farmers are often forced to opt for pump sizes that are bigger than needed for their land. According to Debajit Palit, professor of energy at NTPC School of Business in Noida and a panelist at the CSE webinar, the scheme needs to be tailored as per farmers’ requirements so that it proves financially viable for them. “If pump sizes are based on the land size and water requirements of different areas, rather than keeping them uniform throughout the country, farmers could avoid the extra expenditure,” he said. Another challenge is centralisation of the implementation model in some states. In Punjab, the report notes, the scheme’s implementation is overseen by the Punjab Renewable Energy Development Agency, as opposed to Rajasthan, where each component of the scheme has a different implementing agency. Yadav said that to truly realise the potential of the PM-KUSUM scheme, a decentralised model is important. “State implementing agencies with the necessary knowledge about each component should be responsible for the components that are under their expertise,” he added. The CSE report has recommended some measures to speed up the implementation of the PM KUSUM scheme. It suggested a decentralised implementation model and farmers should get the option to pay upfront costs in installments in order to make the scheme financially more viable for them, among others.

PM-KUSUM scheme – Recent Updates

The PM-KUSUM scheme, started in 2019 to introduce solar energy in Indian agriculture, is facing difficulties. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), only 30% of the scheme’s targets have been met. With the 2026 deadline approaching, improvements are urgently needed. Overview of the PM-KUSUM Scheme The scheme has three main parts: Component A: Installing mini-grids on barren lands. Component B: Replacing diesel water pumps with off-grid solar water pumps. Component C: Replacing electric water pumps with on-grid solar pumps and creating mini-grids for agricultural solarisation. Progress and Successes Component B has made good progress in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. By replacing diesel pumps with solar-powered ones, farmers are saving up to Rs 55,000 annually. This also helps them avoid power cuts, making irrigation more reliable. Challenges in Implementation Cheap Electricity: The availability of inexpensive electricity makes farmers less interested in switching to solar pumps. Pressure to Buy Larger Pumps: Farmers are often pressured to buy bigger pumps than they need, which increases their costs. Centralisation: The centralized implementation process is inefficient and varies by state. Recommendations for Improvement The CSE report suggests several strategies to improve the scheme’s success: Decentralisation: Allow local agencies with expertise to manage implementations more effectively. Financial Viability: Offer installment payment options for upfront costs to make solar pumps more accessible to farmers.

इन गर्मियों में क्या ओजोन ने बिगाड़ी थी दिल्ली की सेहत…?

कार्बन डाईऑक्साइड, मीथेन और नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड के अलावा अब ओजोन (Ozone) गैस भी भारत के पर्यावरण और यहां के लोगों की सेहत (Health) के लिए खतरा बन रही है। देश के 10 महानगरों में जमीनी स्तर पर इसकी मौजूदगी काफी ज्यादा पाई गई है। CSE का अध्ययन सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की स्टडी के मुताबिक, गर्मियों में इस बार दिल्ली-एनसीआर में इसका लेवल देश के और शहरों से कहीं ज्यादा था। यहां इस दौरान 176 दिनों तक इसका स्तर तय मानक से ज्यादा था तो और शहरों में 138 दिन। इस स्टडी में दिल्ली-एनसीआर, बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई, कोलकाता, मुंबई और पुणे के साथ ग्रेटर अहमदाबाद, ग्रेटर हैदराबाद, ग्रेटर जयपुर और ग्रेटर लखनऊ में ओजोन स्तर का विश्लेषण किया गया।

दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) की ‘एयर क्वालिटी ट्रैकर : एन इनविजिबल थ्रेट’ नामक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार भारतीय शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण के स्तर में चिंताजनक वृद्धि हुई है।

रिपोर्ट के महत्वपूर्ण निष्कर्ष इस रिपोर्ट में दिल्ली एन.सी.आर., बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई, कोलकाता, मुंबई व पुणे के साथ अहमदाबाद, हैदराबाद, जयपुर एवं लखनऊ में ओजोन के स्तर का विश्लेषण किया गया। अध्ययन के अनुसार, सभी 10 क्षेत्रों में राष्ट्रीय ओजोन मानक से अधिक प्रदूषण देखा गया, जिसमें दिल्ली सर्वाधिक प्रभावित रहा। ओजोन न केवल महानगरीय क्षेत्रों में जमा होता है बल्कि लंबी दूरी तक भी फैलता है, जिससे एक क्षेत्रीय प्रदूषक उत्पन्न होता है रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, कणीय प्रदूषण कम होने के साथ-साथ नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड (NOx) एवं पृष्ठीय ओजोन (ग्राउंड-लेवल ओजोन) की समस्याएँ बढ़ती हैं। अपर्याप्त निगरानी, ​​सीमित डाटा और अप्रभावी प्रवृत्ति विश्लेषण विधियों से इस बढ़ते हुए सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य जोखिम को समझने में बाधा उत्पन्न होती है। देश में प्रदूषण से निपटने को लेकर अधिकांश नीतियां और आम लोगों का ध्यान विशेषकर पर पीएम 2.5 जैसे अन्य प्रदूषकों पर रहा है। ओज़ोन प्रदूषण धरातल पर पाई जाने वाली ओज़ोन या पृष्ठीय ओज़ोन एक हानिकारक वायु प्रदूषक है, जिसका लोगों के स्वास्थ्य एवं पर्यावरण पर नकारात्मक प्रभाव पड़ता है। यह सीधे हवा में उत्सर्जित नहीं होता है, बल्कि इसका निर्माण नाइट्रोजन के ऑक्साइड (NOx) और वाष्पशील कार्बनिक यौगिकों (VOC) के बीच रासायनिक अभिक्रियाओं द्वारा होता है। ऐसा तब होता है जब कारों, बिजली संयंत्रों, औद्योगिक बॉयलरों, रिफाइनरियों, रासायनिक संयंत्रों और अन्य स्रोतों से निकलने वाले प्रदूषक सूर्य के प्रकाश की उपस्थिति में रासायनिक रूप से अभिक्रिया करते हैं। हालाँकि, स्ट्रैटोस्फेरिक ओजोन (समताप मंडलीय ओजोन) की तुलना में पृष्ठीय ओजोन कम केंद्रित होता है किंतु स्वास्थ्य आदि पर इसका प्रभाव इसे ‘बैड ओजोन’ बनाते हैं। धरातलीय ओजोन की सांद्रता आम तौर पर गर्मी की अवधि में कम आर्द्रता वाले दिनों में सर्वाधिक होती है जब हवा हल्की या स्थिर होती है।

Ozone gas threat to big Indian cities like Delhi Mumbai Bengaluru CSE Report 2024 is scary

भारत के बड़े शहरों के लिए वायु प्रदूषण का खतरा अब जानलेवा बनता जा रहा है. हर साल दिल्ली एनसीआर और दूसरे बड़े शहरों में रहने वाले लोग इस खतरे से होने वाली गंभीर बीमारियों से जूझते हैं. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने इस पर अब एक नई रिपोर्ट पब्लिश की है. इस रिपोर्ट में उसने खुलासा किया है कि कैसे ओजोन गैस इन शहरों की हवा को और जहरीली बना रही है. चलिए आपको इस आर्टिकल में इस रिपोर्ट के बारे में विस्तार से बताते हैं. खतरे में हैं ये शहर दिल्ली एनसीआर, बेंगलुरु, चेन्नई, कोलकाता, मुंबई और पुणे के साथ-साथ ग्रेटर अहमदाबाद, ग्रेटर हैदराबाद, ग्रेटर जयपुर और ग्रेटर लखनऊ की स्थिति चिंताजनक है. दरअसल, दिल्ली स्थित थिंक टैंक सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, इन भारतीय शहरों में ओजोन प्रदूषण के स्तर में चिंताजनक वृद्धि हुई है. खासतौर से इस साल के गर्मियों के दौरान भारत के 20 प्रमुख शहरी क्षेत्रों में जमीनी स्तर पर ओजोन गैस का स्तर काफी ज्यादा बढ़ गया है. इससे इन क्षेत्रों में हवा पहले के मुकाबले कहीं ज्यादा जहरीली हो गई है. इन सभी शहरों में दिल्ली सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हुई है.

Ozone build-up: Delhi-NCR and other metropolitan areas of India confront new air quality crisis

Each year during winter, Delhi-NCR hits the headlines due to severe air pollution that surpasses all permissible limits. However, there is now another major concern. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), ground-level ozone increased in 10 metropolitan areas of India this summer, with Delhi being the most affected, as reported by TOI. The report further highlighted that Delhi-NCR recorded 176 days of exceedance during the study period, followed by Mumbai and Pune with 138 days.

Dangerous increase in ozone pollution across urban India: study

CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) report finds dangerous increase in ozone pollution across urban India. More about news: A new study by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed a disturbing trend: Ground-level ozone pollution is on the rise across India’s major cities. This invisible gas, unlike the more familiar fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, poses a serious health threat, particularly to those with respiratory problems. The report, Air Quality Tracker: An invisible threat, was released August 6, 2024. The researchers analyzed metropolitan areas of Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kolkata (West Bengal), Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra). They also looked at data for Delhi-National Capital Region, Greater Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Greater Hyderabad (Telangana), Greater Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Greater Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). Finding of the study: All 10 areas studied witnessed exceedances of the national ozone standard, with Delhi being the most affected. Smaller cities like Ahmedabad and Pune are experiencing a particularly rapid increase in ozone pollution, the report further found. Between April and July this year, Delhi-NCR recorded 176 days of ground-level ozone exceedances, the highest among the ten metropolitan areas studied. Mumbai and Pune both had 138 days, followed by Jaipur with 126 days and Hyderabad with 86 days. Kolkata had 63 exceedance days, Bengaluru 59, Lucknow 49 and Ahmedabad 41. Chennai had the fewest exceedances, with just nine days. Contrary to expectations, ozone levels were elevated even at night, with Mumbai recording the most instances of night-time exceedances. The duration of ozone exposure is concerning, lasting an average of 12-15 hours across most cities, the researchers found. The researchers tracked trends from April 1 to July 18, covering the years 2020 to 2024. The analysis is based on granular, real-time data (15-minute averages) from the Central Pollution Control Board. Global experience indicates a common trade-off: as particulate pollution is reduced, issues with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ground-level ozone increase, the report pointed out. Currently, insufficient monitoring, limited data, and ineffective trend analysis methods have hampered understanding of this growing public health risk, the report added. The complex chemistry of ground-level ozone makes it a difficult pollutant to track and mitigate.

Examine the rising threat of ground-level ozone pollution in urban India. Also, discuss the measures required to tackle this invisible hazard effectively

Why the Question: Recent findings from the CSE highlight a dangerous increase in ground-level ozone pollution across major Indian cities, posing significant health risks, particularly to those with respiratory conditions. This has raised concerns about the current air quality management strategies and the need for stricter regulations. Key Demand of the Question: To analyze the growing issue of ground-level ozone pollution in India, its health implications, and the necessary regulatory and policy interventions to control this pollutant. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Define ground-level ozone pollution and its sources, emphasizing its increasing prevalence in Indian cities. Body: Current Scenario: Overview of the CSE report findings on ozone pollution exceedances in various cities. Health risks associated with prolonged exposure to ground-level ozone.