India, with highest number of polluted cities, to now make pollution monitoring equipment

Calling it a significant move to strengthen environmental governance and cut reliance on foreign certification systems, India has established the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) at the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The facility will develop indigenous testing and calibration capabilities for air pollution monitoring equipment.

At present, most air quality monitoring instruments used in India are imported and certified by international agencies in Europe or the US, based on environmental conditions prevailing in those regions.

Since environmental conditions of those countries are very different from the conditions prevalent in India, it affects the quality of measurements by the instrument operating for a long time in Indian conditions, CSIR-NPL scientists explained. At present, only the UK has such a laboratory.


Since the environmental conditions in those countries differ sharply from those prevalent in India, the performance and accuracy of such instruments tend to degrade over prolonged operation under Indian conditions, CSIR–NPL scientists explained. At present, the UK is the only other country with such a facility.

The NESL, inaugurated by Union science and technology minister Jitendra Singh during the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR–NPL — the apex metrology institution and custodian of India’s national standards — on Monday, will address anomalies arising from differing environmental conditions and also support the development and manufacture of standardised air quality monitoring equipment.

Variations in temperature, humidity, pollution mix and high dust load, stemming from differences in weather and environmental conditions between India and certifying countries, have often affected the long-term reliability and transparency of air quality data generated in the country.