China's Air Pollution Turnaround: Lessons for India's Smog Crisis

As of November 2025, China has made significant strides in reducing air pollution levels in its major cities, a feat that could offer valuable lessons for India's persistent smog crisis. According to the article, India's current air pollution scenario is comparable to China's in the late 2000s, with both countries facing similar drivers of pollution, such as rapid industrialization and urbanization.

China's journey towards cleaner air began in the late 2000s, when the government made air pollution a key priority. This was accompanied by increased investment in pollution control equipment, the shutdown of outdated and highly polluting industrial facilities, and a push for the adoption of electric vehicles. The article notes that China's top-down accountability measures, where officials' performance was tied to air quality targets, played a crucial role in driving these changes.

While China has made progress, the article also highlights some caveats, such as the potential for falsified information and the reopening of closed factories by local leaders. Additionally, China's base standards for air quality are still lower than those of its Western counterparts. Nevertheless, the article suggests that India can learn from China's experience and adopt strategies like controlling industrial and vehicular emissions, expanding the use of cleaner fuels, and promoting public transportation to tackle its own air pollution crisis.