Program Overview
Understanding India's first airshed-based air quality management program
The Air Pollution Crisis in Indo-Gangetic Plain
Understanding the scale and complexity of air quality degradation
PM2.5 Levels
μg/m³ annual average in IGP
10x WHO recommended standard
Transboundary
Sources of pollution from neighboring regions
Requires regional cooperation
Non-Attainment Cities
Across Uttar Pradesh and region
Exceeding national standards
The Indo-Gangetic Plain faces one of the world's most severe air quality challenges, with pollution levels reaching crisis levels particularly during winter months. This affects over 270 million people across multiple states, requiring a coordinated, science-based approach to address both local and transboundary sources.
Introducing UPCAMPA
India's first airshed-based air quality management program
A New Paradigm
Airshed-Based Approach
Moves beyond city-level interventions to address air pollution at the regional level
Science-Driven
Backed by GAINS-IGP modeling and collaboration with leading research institutions
Multi-Sector Engagement
Coordinated action across transport, agriculture, industry, and household sectors
Total Financing
World Bank IBRD + Grant funding
Target Population
People impacted across IGP
Implementation Period
7-year comprehensive program
Why an Airshed-Based Approach?
Moving beyond traditional city-level air quality management
| Aspect | Traditional NCAP Approach | Airshed Approach (UPCAMPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Scope | City-level interventions | Regional airshed basin (3-state coverage) |
| Planning Basis | Local source inventories | Regional atmospheric modeling with transboundary analysis |
| Sector Coordination | Individual city actions | Integrated multi-sector implementation at state level |
| Monitoring System | Basic air quality monitoring | Advanced DSS with super-sites and AI-enabled tracking |
| Financing Mechanism | Traditional grant-based | Performance-for-Results with outcome-based incentives |
| Transboundary Focus | Limited inter-state coordination | Explicit regional cooperation mechanisms |
Key Advantage
Since 43% of pollution in the IGP originates from transboundary sources, a regional airshed approach is far more effective than isolated city-level efforts. UPCAMPA enables coordinated state and inter-state action with financial incentives tied to actual pollution reduction outcomes.
Scientific Foundation
Rigorous modeling and research underpins the program design
GAINS-IGP Model
The program is based on the GAINS-Indo-Gangetic Plain model, a sophisticated integrated assessment tool that analyzes pollution sources, atmospheric transport, and the effectiveness of different intervention scenarios.
- •Accounts for meteorological conditions and seasonal variations
- •Models transboundary pollution flows
- •Evaluates cost-effectiveness of different measures
Research Partnerships
Collaboration with world-leading institutions ensures the program draws on cutting-edge science and maintains high technical standards throughout implementation.
- •IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)
- •IIT Kanpur (Indian Institute of Technology)
- •IIT Delhi (Indian Institute of Technology)
Modeling Outputs
The GAINS-IGP model identified that achieving WHO air quality standards in the Indo-Gangetic Plain requires:
Clean Cooking
Households
Agriculture
Approach
Industry
Brick Kilns
Transport
Vehicles
Program-for-Results (PforR) Instrument
Linking financing to measurable outcomes
How PforR Works
Define Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs)
Clear, measurable targets for each program component
Implement Interventions
States execute projects, supported by World Bank funds
Verify Results
Independent verification of DLI achievement
Release Funds
Disbursements tied to documented results
PforR Advantages
- ✓Outcome-focused: Rewards actual results, not activities
- ✓Flexibility: States adapt implementation to local conditions
- ✓Accountability: Clear targets drive performance
- ✓Innovation: Encourages testing of effective approaches
8 Disbursement-Linked Indicators
Covering air quality monitoring, capacity building, clean cooking, agriculture, industry, transport, vehicle scrapping, and city-level management.
View DLI FrameworkUPCAMPA at a Glance
Total Financing
World Bank support
People Impacted
Across IGP region
Years
2025-2031 implementation
DLIs
Performance indicators
Sectors
Integrated approach