• 'Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory' (AATAL) is also equipped to identify real‑time sources of air pollution.
  • The new facility will go beyond AQI numbers to tell what is polluting Delhi's air, where it is coming from and its potential health impacts: Dr. Jitendra Singh
  • Dr. Jitendra Singh said real‑time source allocation, air‑quality forecasting and scientific decision‑making have been integrated with Airwise.
  • A facility to support CQM and pollution‑control agencies in targeting interventions and assessing their effectiveness: Dr. Jitendra Singh
  • Dr. Jitendra Singh said coordinated action across government departments is essential for evidence‑based air‑pollution management.

Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences (independent charge) and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated the world's first 'Air Pollution Analysis' facility for Delhi NCR. Known as the 'Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory' (AATAL), it is also equipped to identify real‑time sources of air pollution.

Calling it the world's first integrated facility, the minister said Delhi‑NCR was chosen given the serious public concern over air pollution. He explained that the facility will move air‑quality assessment beyond mere pollution‑level reporting to identify pollutant composition, sources, relative contributions and potential health impacts, and will provide real‑time information and advanced forecasts to aid timely action.

The inauguration took place at IITM Delhi branch in the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr. T. Srinivas Kumar, Director of IITM Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao and Director General of IMD Dr. Mahapatra. The facility is established under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mission Mausam’ to strengthen scientific understanding of atmospheric pollution and provide actionable evidence for air‑quality management in Delhi‑NCR. The laboratory brings together advanced atmospheric measurement instruments, detailed chemical analysis, source identification and decision‑support capabilities within an integrated framework.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India has made considerable progress in air‑quality forecasting and analysis over the past 10‑12 years. He noted that the new facility is a major step because it will not only reveal how much pollution is in the atmosphere but also what it consists of and where it originates.

The minister said, “Earlier the discussion was mostly about whether the pollution level was 100 or 200. This facility will help us understand the composition of pollution and the contribution of different sources. It is essential to allay Delhi residents’ concerns and ensure that action is based on scientific evidence.”

AATAL will help scientists differentiate between various sources of air pollution, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, biomass and crop‑residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollutants carried from surrounding regions. By estimating the relative contribution of these sources, the facility will aid authorities in understanding which activities are driving poor air quality at any given time and where interventions can be most effective.

Illustrating the importance of real‑time source apportionment, Dr. Jitendra Singh cited an example to journalists: the screen showed that at that moment transport contributed about 25 % to Delhi’s air pollution, with the total pollution level recorded at roughly 180. He said such information can move the response from generic assessments to targeted interventions based on the actual contributing sources.

The laboratory is equipped with advanced instruments to analyse the chemical composition of atmospheric gases and aerosols, including fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), metals, toxic elements and other constituents. Its capabilities will enable scientists to examine how pollutants interact and transform in the atmosphere and how different components contribute to the overall pollution burden.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said the facility will provide information on the smaller constituents of air pollution, such as metallic elements and other potentially harmful components. He explained that pollutants can differ in their health effects, making it important to understand not only their concentration but also their composition and possible toxicity.

Scientific evidence can help health officials better understand the potential risks associated with various types of particulate pollution. This can also support close coordination between scientific institutions, health agencies and environmental authorities for assessing the public‑health impacts of air pollution.

The laboratory is integrated with IITM’s AI‑based Airwise system, an integrated decision‑support platform for air‑quality warnings and emissions, which combines air‑quality forecasts, observations and source‑apportionment information to support pollution management.

The project team said Airwise provides air‑quality forecasts at 400‑metre spatial resolution for the next 72 hours, enabling the system to assess how pollution may vary across different parts of Delhi. It can also help identify sources that may be degrading air quality in specific locations. Dr. Jitendra Singh said the integrated capability will deliver real‑time information together with forecasts for the next four days, helping officials prepare for changing pollution conditions.

Project Director of MQWSS Dr. Sachin Ghuade said the integrated facility will strengthen air‑quality management in Delhi‑NCR by providing early warnings and detailed information on sources contributing to pollution, including stubble burning, vehicle emissions, construction and road dust. He said this information will help the Air‑Quality Management Commission (CQM) and other implementation agencies identify major pollution sources, plan targeted interventions and assess their effectiveness.

He added that the associated air‑quality forecasting system provides 72‑hour forecasts at 400‑metre resolution, allowing assessment of pollution levels and potential sources for different parts of Delhi. Describing the forecasting capability as a major technical advance, Dr. Ghuade said India has developed a high‑resolution system that compares favourably with global forecasting models and can be extended to other cities.

Emphasising the importance of coordination among government agencies, Dr. Jitendra Singh said air pollution cannot be addressed by any single department working in isolation. He cited the initiative as an example of the whole‑government approach advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bringing together scientific institutions, environmental regulators, pollution‑control agencies and disaster‑management stakeholders.

The minister said coordinated engagement between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, pollution‑control authorities and disaster‑management agencies will be crucial to translate scientific information into effective action.

For the Air‑Quality Management Commission (CQM) and other implementation agencies, the facility will provide measurement‑based evidence to identify sources responsible for deteriorating air quality, prioritize areas and locations for interventions, and support coordinated measures in Delhi‑NCR. When combined with Airwise forecasts, this information can strengthen decisions under the graded‑response action plan for preventive measures and responses.

The inauguration of AATAL marks a significant step in linking advanced atmospheric science with public policy and ground‑level action. By bringing together real‑time measurements, chemical characterisation, source apportionment and forecasting, the facility will help officials achieve a more accurate understanding of air pollution and move toward a more coordinated response to the challenges facing Delhi‑NCR.