Air pollution is increasingly recognised as a major cancer risk, with strong scientific evidence linking long-term exposure, especially to fine particulate matter to lung cancer. The WHO’s cancer agency has classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic, with traffic and fuel related emissions posing the greatest danger. 

Experts say Delhi must shift from reactive responses like GRAP to proactive, data-driven and accountable policies. Drawing lessons from London’s congestion pricing and Beijing’s regional industrial controls, they stress targeting power plants, enforcing emission cuts and linking administrative accountability to results for achieving cleaner, healthier air by 2030.

According to the expert, there has been no significant improvement in Delhi's air pollution between 1998 and 2023, and a report by the University of Chicago also found no significant change in PM2.5 levels.