India’s fight against toxic air pollution has reached a critical moment—but the Union Budget 2026–27 tells a worrying story.
Funding for pollution control has actually decreased at a time when record-breaking heatwaves, smog-filled winters, and an increase in respiratory illnesses are becoming commonplace. The budgetary allotment conveys a concerning message: clean air is still a priority in theory but not in reality.
Pollution Control Funding: A Step Backward
The government has set out ₹1,091 crore for pollution management in 2026–2027, a decrease from ₹1,300 crore in the previous year.
This reduction occurs in spite of growing evidence that air pollution is a serious public health emergency that affects millions of people in both urban and rural India and is no longer merely an environmental problem.
What makes this even more alarming is the historical trend.
Budget Estimate 2024–25: ₹854 crore
Revised Estimate (after acknowledging shortfalls): Increased later
Actual Spending in 2024–25: Just ₹16 crore
This dramatic gap between allocation and real expenditure exposes a deeper problem: even limited funds earmarked for clean air are not being effectively utilised.
A Growing Crisis, Shrinking Commitment
India is already battling:
Increased frequency and severity of heatwaves
Devastating cyclones and floods
Extended periods of extreme air pollution
Asthma, heart disease, and other ailments linked to pollution are on the rise.
Yet, the financing trend does not meet the urgency of this reality. India's capacity to address the growing climate-health catastrophe is weakened by the persistent underfunding of clean-air efforts, pollution monitoring, and mitigation programs.
Environment Ministry Gets a Modest Boost, but Is It Enough?
For FY 2026–2027, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has been given ₹3,759.46 crore, an increase of ₹278 crore, or around 8%, above the 2025–2026 Budget Estimate.
Why This Budget Choice Matters
Air pollution is not a distant threat—it affects:
Children’s lung development
Worker productivity
Healthcare costs
Urban livability
India’s global climate commitments
Underfunding pollution control today risks higher economic and human costs tomorrow. Without sustained investment, clean-air targets may remain aspirational, and emergency responses will continue to replace long-term solutions.