- Why in news
- On 18 August 2026, the 29th Full Commission meeting of CAQM approved Direction No. 102 on phased registration limits for cleaner Light Goods Vehicles in Delhi-NCR, and Direction No. 103 on dust control at stone crushing units. The release was posted on 19 August 2026.
- What it is
- The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas is a statutory body set up under a 2021 Act of Parliament. It coordinates, researches and tackles air quality problems in Delhi-NCR. It issues binding directions to states and agencies, and it replaced the earlier EPCA.
- Direction No. 102
- Restricts new registration of Diesel/Petrol/CNG N1 light goods vehicles in phases, starting in Delhi from 1 January 2027.
- Why LGVs
- LGVs are a small share of the vehicle stock but contribute a larger share of particulate emissions.
- Legal basis
- CAQM was established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
Don’t confuse with CAQM vs CPCB: CAQM is a regional statutory commission with binding directions for NCR. CPCB is the national pollution regulator under the Water and Air Acts.
Don’t confuse with CAQM vs EPCA: EPCA was an earlier Supreme Court-appointed authority for NCR. CAQM replaced it under the 2021 Act.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Vehicle and dust curbs target major particulate sources in NCR through a single regional authority.
- Cross-state directions help avoid the gaps that arise when Delhi, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan act separately.
Problems
- Enforcement depends on state pollution boards and local bodies with limited capacity.
- Phased rules can shift registrations to nearby areas or delay the benefit.
Way forward
- Use continuous remote monitoring and audits to verify compliance.
- Pair registration limits with incentives and charging or fuelling infrastructure for cleaner LGVs.
Put in your answer
LGV emission share: LGVs are about 1.2% of the active fleet but about 3.3% of its PM emissions.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q7Revised WHO air quality guidelines and required NCAP changes
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q17Key features of the National Clean Air Programme
- 2015Mains GS1 · Q15Why Delhi's air pollution is more serious than Mumbai, Kolkata
- 2018Prelims Q4How NGT differs from CPCB in legal basis and functions
- 2022Prelims Q44Correct WHO air quality guideline statements on PM2.5, ozone, PM10
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: CAQM is a statutory body with new directions on cleaner vehicles and dust; lasting topic, but statutory-body questions are few (7 in Prelims), so no question.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 19 Aug, 20:15 IST · Release 293700
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.