Union Budget 2026 Cuts Pollution Control Funds: A Dangerous Gamble for Delhi’s Health?

Union Budget 2026: Delhi gasps as funds to combat pollution lowered

Picture this: You’re in Delhi on a winter morning. The sun is a hazy, orange disc struggling to pierce through a thick, grey blanket. Your eyes sting, your throat itches, and every breath feels like a small gamble with your health. Now, imagine the government, in its annual financial plan, decides to reduce the money set aside to fight this very crisis. That’s not a dystopian fiction—it’s the reality presented by the Union Budget 2026-27.

The Centre has allocated a mere Rs 1,091 crore for pollution control in the coming fiscal year. This is a sharp cut of Rs 209 crore from the revised estimates of Rs 1,300 crore in 2025-26 [[1]]. At a time when the city’s residents are literally gasping for clean air, this decision feels less like a policy and more like a public health betrayal.

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The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Shrinking War Chest

Let’s be clear about the figures. The allocation for the specific head of “pollution control funds“—which directly supports State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)—has been slashed [[3]]. While the overall budget for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) saw a nominal increase to Rs 3,759.46 crore, this larger figure includes a wide range of activities, from wildlife conservation to climate change initiatives [[10]]. The dedicated pot of money for the day-to-day, on-the-ground battle against smog, industrial emissions, and vehicular pollution is getting smaller.

This reduction comes at a time when the need for robust enforcement and monitoring has never been greater. SPCBs are the frontline agencies responsible for checking factory emissions, managing waste, and implementing local clean air plans. With less funding, their ability to hire staff, maintain equipment, and conduct regular inspections is severely compromised.

Why This Cut is So Alarming for Delhi-NCR

Delhi isn’t just any city; it’s a global symbol of the urban air pollution crisis. The city started 2026 with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 372, firmly in the ‘very poor’ category [[20]]. In 2025, Delhi didn’t record a single day of ‘good’ air quality, with an annual average AQI of 201 [[22]]. The health impacts are staggering, with studies linking the toxic air to a rise in cardiovascular events and respiratory deaths [[24]].

Experts from the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago have estimated that this chronic pollution is cutting life expectancy in the Delhi-NCR region by a shocking 11.9 years [[26]]. In this context, reducing the financial resources meant to combat the source of this public health emergency is not just short-sighted—it’s dangerous.

pollution control funds and the National Clean Air Programme

A significant portion of the dedicated pollution control funds is meant to power the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Launched with much fanfare, the NCAP aims to reduce particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) concentrations by 20-30% by 2026, using 2017 as the base year. However, the programme has been widely criticized for its lack of legally binding targets and, crucially, for being underfunded.

The budget cut for 2026-27 raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to the NCAP’s goals. Without adequate funding, city-specific action plans remain just that—plans on paper. There’s no money to scale up public transport, create effective dust management systems, or provide farmers with viable alternatives to stubble burning, a major seasonal contributor to Delhi’s smog.

A Contradictory Green Agenda?

The government’s messaging around the budget presents a confusing picture. On one hand, there are announcements of increased allocations for clean energy and green hydrogen, which are undoubtedly positive steps for the long-term climate fight [[6]]. On the other hand, the immediate, life-threatening issue of air pollution in its own capital is being deprioritized.

This disconnect highlights a critical flaw in the current environmental strategy: a focus on future, large-scale green transitions while neglecting the urgent, present-day crisis of dirty air. It’s like investing in a new, fuel-efficient car for next year while refusing to fix the brakes on the one you’re driving today.

What Experts and Citizens Are Saying

The reaction from the environmental and public health community has been swift and critical. Many experts lament the absence of a Delhi-NCR-specific air pollution package in the budget, which was a key demand given the region’s unique and severe challenges [[4]].

Citizens’ groups and activists are calling the move a “betrayal” of the people of Delhi. They argue that the government is failing in its most basic duty: to protect the health and well-being of its citizens. The lack of regional focus and the inadequate support for essential infrastructure, including EV charging networks that could help reduce vehicular emissions, has only added to the frustration [[1]].

Conclusion: A Question of Priorities

The reduction in pollution control funds in the Union Budget 2026 is more than just a line item; it’s a statement of priorities. It signals that the immediate, tangible suffering of millions of citizens in India’s most polluted cities is not a top-tier concern for the central government. While the long-term vision for a greener India is important, it cannot come at the cost of ignoring the public health emergency unfolding right now. For the residents of Delhi-NCR, who are already paying for the city’s growth with their health and longevity, this budget feels like a step in the wrong direction. The question now is not just about money, but about political will and the value placed on human life.

Sources

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