CAQM Outlines Detailed Plan To Improve Delhi’s Air Quality
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has outlined a detailed strategy to further curb air pollution in Delhi and its neighbouring regions, projecting an increase in the number of clear “bluesky” days over the next three to four years, according to media reports.
Tarun Kumar Pithode, a 2009-batch IAS officer and the newly appointed full-time member secretary of the CAQM, said in an interview to media, that the commission has gained a strong understanding of pollution sources since its formation five years ago, with visible improvements in the city’s air quality index (AQI).
A new emission inventory and source apportionment study for Delhi-NCR, using 2026 as the base year, is being prepared to improve forecasting and planning. Pithode cited progress in reducing crop stubble burning with fewer farm fires and a smaller burnt area, as one of the commission’s key achievements, which has contributed to a reduction in the number of days with AQI above 450.
Industries in the National Capital Region are now largely operating on permitted, cleaner fuels To address industrial emissions, CAQM has mandated the installation of air pollution control devices (APCD) and online continuous emission monitoring systems (OCEMS).
The Union environment minister has directed that all industries complete OCEMS installation by December 31. Teams from pollution control boards and CAQM are inspecting facilities to verify compliance.
On the transportation front, CAQM has ordered that inter-city buses entering Delhi run on BS-VI, CNG or electric fuel. Commercial vehicles from outside the city that are BS-III or below are no longer permitted within Delhi.
From January 1, 2026, only electric or CNG vehicles will be inducted into certain commercial vehicle categories, and conventional petrol or diesel vehicles will not be newly added. The commission is also encouraging state governments to formulate electric vehicle (EV) policies supported by adequate charging infrastructure, batteryswap facilities and training for EV maintenance.
State governments have been asked to expand their fleets of electric buses and improve first- and last-mile public transport connectivity. For the first time, CAQM plans to monitor crop residue burning during the rabi season to ensure that wheat stubble is not burnt during the summer.
New norms for mechanised road sweepers to clean roads are also being framed. Air quality monitoring is being strengthened with the number of real-time continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) in Delhi-NCR set to increase from 84 to 111 with 27 additional stations.
Low-cost sensors will be installed at large construction sites to measure dust emissions, and road agencies are being encouraged to deploy similar sensors. CAQM’s new emission inventory and source apportionment study, being developed by a consortium including ARAI, TERI, IITM Pune and IIT Delhi, is expected to be completed by 2027.
The updated data and improved forecasting algorithms are intended to help guide future interventions. Pithode said while factors such as weather and geography will continue to influence air quality, sustained policy implementation and coordinated enforcement across agencies could significantly reduce the average AQI and deliver more days of better air quality in the coming years.
Army Intensifies Winter Operations In J-K To Flush Out Pakistani Terrorists
Amid freezing temperatures and treacherous terrains, the Indian Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across Kishtwar and Doda districts in Jammu and Kashmir to pursue and neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh winter for concealment, sources said on Dec 27.
Traditionally, the onset of the 40-day ‘Chillai Kalan’, the harshest phase of winter in the Kashmir Valley from December 21 to January 31, ushers in a ‘temporary lull’ in terrorist activities, as communication routes close and heavy snowfall isolates the mountain regions, they said.
However, this winter has marked a “decisive shift” in the operational approach of the Army and other security forces, a source in the defence establishment said.
Instead of reducing activities, the Army has adopted a “proactive winter posture”, establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within the snow-capped areas to maintain pressure on the possible terrorist hideouts, the sources said.
Operating in sub-zero temperatures with limited visibility, the Army patrols have been regularly traversing the high-altitude ridgelines, valleys, and forested areas to “deny the terrorists any sanctuary”, they added.
The shift, according to experts, signifies an evolution in counter-terrorism tactics, underlining both the Army’s adaptability and its resolve to maintain operational momentum, irrespective of the weather or terrain.
According to assessments by various intelligence agencies, there are “approximately 30-35 Pakistani terrorists” in the Jammu region currently, defence sources said.
Inputs gathered over the past few months suggest that these Pakistani terrorist groups, finding themselves cornered by successful counter-terror operations, have shifted deeper into the higher and middle-mountain reaches of the region, areas now devoid of habitation, they said.
These terrorists are believed to be seeking temporary winter hideouts to evade detection and avoid a direct confrontation with the security forces.
Reports indicate that these remnants of terror groups are attempting to coerce or threaten the local villagers for shelter and food supplies, even though their support among the locals and overground workers has sharply declined.
The drying local support and continuous security vigilance in the lower altitudes have forced them into isolation, further restricting their ability to regroup or plan coordinated attacks, the sources said.
According to the sources, the Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across Kishtwar and Doda districts.
Undeterred by freezing temperatures, treacherous terrains, and heavy snowfall, Army units have expanded their operational reach into the higher and snowbound areas to pursue and “neutralise Pakistani terrorists attempting to exploit the harsh season for concealment”, the sources said.
A defining feature of this year’s counter-terror strategy has been the integrated approach to operations.
The Army is leading a synchronised effort involving multiple security and law enforcement agencies, including the civil administration, J-K Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Operations Group (SOG), forest guards, and village defence guards (VDGs), another source said.
This inter-agency cooperation ensures seamless sharing of intelligence, resource optimisation, and sharper operational execution, the source added.
Intelligence from multiple agencies is carefully synthesised to draw “precise situational pictures” of terrorist movement and hideout patterns.
Once intelligence is verified, coordinated joint operations are planned and launched, minimising overlaps and ensuring maximum impact with tactical precision, defence sources said.
The synergy among ground units and intelligence frameworks has enhanced the response time, enabling security forces to act the moment actionable information surfaces, they added.
The principal focus of the Army and other forces this winter is twofold; to eliminate the remaining terrorist pockets within the known areas and to ensure that terrorists remain confined to the inhospitable higher reaches, a source said.
This containment strategy not only prevents terrorists from infiltrating or regrouping in the populated belts but also significantly disrupts their logistics and communication channels, reducing any operational capability, the source added.
Security forces have launched concurrent operations along the valleys, mid-altitude regions and high ridges to maintain overlapping control and deny any potential movement corridor.
Each operation is followed by sustained surveillance, ensuring that areas once cleared remain under watch, they said.
This “surveillance-sweep-surveillance” cycle forms the cornerstone of the Army’s “new winter doctrine”, balancing aggressive field operations with steady technological oversight.
The Army has also deployed specially trained winter warfare sub-units across several key sectors.
These troops, adept in high-altitude survival, snow navigation, avalanche response and snow combat, have been instrumental in maintaining operational effectiveness during the winter surge, the sources said.
Modern technology has become a force multiplier in these operations. From drone-based reconnaissance to ground sensors and surveillance radars, a wide array of tools is being leveraged to detect movement, track heat signatures, and pinpoint the possible movement routes, they said.
These systems, integrated into the Army’s overall information network, enable continuous monitoring and rapid decision-making even under adverse conditions.
Also, operational strategies are continuously refined based on real-time intelligence, weather dynamics and terrain assessments, the sources said.
Even in the middle of Chillai Kalan, when most activities in the mountains come to a standstill, India’s defenders stand resolute, turning the season of stillness into one of unwavering vigilance and action, they said.
RBI To Infuse Rs 2.90 Trn Liquidity Via Bond Buys, USD Swap
The Reserve Bank ofIndia said Dec 23 it would inject Rs 2.90 trillion of durable liquidity into the banking system through bond purchases and a dollar-rupee swap, as tight cash conditions push short-term rates above the central bank’s policy target.
The RBI said it would buy Rs 2 trillion of government bonds via open market operations (OMO) in four tranches of Rs 500 billion each – on December 29, January 5, January 12 and January 22. It will also conduct a $10-billion buy/sell swap auction on Jan. 13 to ease dollar liquidity.
The measures come as system liquidity turned negative midDecember, driving the weighted average call rate to 5.46%, above the 5.25% repo rate. “The announced operations go beyond market expectations and should provide confidence around durable liquidity availability, alleviate demand supply concerns, and support investor sentiment in the bond market,” said VRC Reddy, head of treasury, Karur Vysya Bank.
“Overall, the RBI’s timely intervention is likely to stabilise yields and improve transmission across the curve.” Between December 11 and 18, the central bank had infused Rs 1.45 trillion through OMOs and a $5-billion swap, but liquidity tightened again on tax outflows, lifting yields and forcing Power Finance Corp (PFC) to scrap a Rs 60 billion bond sale after bids came in at higher-than-expected coupons.
The 10-year benchmark yield has risen 20 basis points since Dec. 5 despite a quarter percentage point policy rate cut delivered in the latest policy review. To be sure, the benchmark yield eased to 6.63% on Dec 23 from 6.66% a day earlier, after touching 6.70% – the highest since March.
“The upward pressure on yields reflects adverse demand supply facing the market, with supply of state government bonds expected to rise in the fourth quarter of FY26,” said Gaura Sengupta, chief economist, IDFC First Bank. State governments collectively raised Rs 337.20 billion through bond sales on Dec 23 at cutoff yields higher than expected, as investors demanded steeper rates.
Liquidity conditions are expected to improve toward month-end as government spending returns to the system, traders said. Separately, Bank of India raised Rs 100 billion long term infrastructure bonds at 7.23%. The government-owned bank received a total of 83 bids amounting to Rs.153.05 billion. Out of this, the bank accepted 37 bids amounting to Rs. 100 billion, it said in a statement.
UPI Spikes In India, But Some States Are Still In Slow Lane
India’s UPI success story looks very different once population is taken out of the equation. Headline transaction volumes suggest a nationwide digital payments surge, but per-capita data shows a country moving at very different speeds, reported the media. Normalising state-wise UPI volumes and values by population as of November 2025 reveals stark contrasts in adoption depth. Maharashtra, the country’s largest state economy, records nearly seven times the per-capita UPI transactions of Bihar. Telangana, ranked second nationally, logs more than six times the average usage seen in Tripura. Tamil Nadu and Kerala sit comfortably above the national mean, while Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal remain near the bottom, underscoring a persistent digital divide.
UPI today processes over 20 billion transactions a month and accounts for roughly 85% of India’s digital payments. Yet intensity of use tracks income levels, urbanisation and merchant acceptance far more closely than sheer population size. Once adjusted for population, smaller and more urbanised regions rise to the top. Delhi leads with about 23.9 transactions per person each month, followed closely by Goa at 23.3, Telangana at 22.6 and Chandigarh at 22.5.
Among large states, Maharashtra stands out with roughly 17.4 transactions per person, reflecting dense urban networks and widespread QR code adoption. Transaction values tell a similar story. Telangana tops the list with a per capita monthly UPI value of around Rs 34,800, ahead of Goa at Rs 33,500 and Delhi at Rs 31,300.
This points to routine use of UPI for higher-ticket payments across organised retail, services and professional activity.
Leaders At the other end of the spectrum, adoption remains shallow. Tripura and Bihar average fewer than four transactions per person a month, with per-capita values of roughly Rs 5,100 and Rs 5,400. Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal cluster close behind.
In practical terms, a Delhi resident uses UPI about six times as often as someone in Bihar or Tripura, highlighting gaps in person-to-merchant infrastructure across eastern and north-eastern India. Regional patterns reinforce the divide.
A south-west corridor stretching from Maharashtra through Karnataka to Telangana shows consistently high frequency and value, signalling mature digital ecosystems. The north-east presents a mixed picture: Tripura and Assam lag, while Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim report relatively higher per-capita usage, possibly reflecting greater reliance on digital payments in difficult terrain where cash access is limited.
The takeaway is a multi-speed digital economy. As UPI enters its next phase of growth, closing the per-capita gap will hinge on wider smartphone penetration, more reliable connectivity and faster merchant onboarding in lagging states. The technology is already ubiquitous; its depth of use is not.
RBI To Infuse Rs 2.90 Trn Liquidity Via Bond Buys, USD Swap
The Reserve Bank ofIndia said Dec 23 it would inject Rs 2.90 trillion of durable liquidity into the banking system through bond purchases and a dollar-rupee swap, as tight cash conditions push short-term rates above the central bank’s policy target.
The RBI said it would buy Rs 2 trillion of government bonds via open market operations (OMO) in four tranches of Rs 500 billion each – on December 29, January 5, January 12 and January 22. It will also conduct a $10-billion buy/sell swap auction on Jan. 13 to ease dollar liquidity.
The measures come as system liquidity turned negative midDecember, driving the weighted average call rate to 5.46%, above the 5.25% repo rate. “The announced operations go beyond market expectations and should provide confidence around durable liquidity availability, alleviate demand supply concerns, and support investor sentiment in the bond market,” said VRC Reddy, head of treasury, Karur Vysya Bank.
“Overall, the RBI’s timely intervention is likely to stabilise yields and improve transmission across the curve.” Between December 11 and 18, the central bank had infused Rs 1.45 trillion through OMOs and a $5-billion swap, but liquidity tightened again on tax outflows, lifting yields and forcing Power Finance Corp (PFC) to scrap a Rs 60 billion bond sale after bids came in at higher-than-expected coupons.
The 10-year benchmark yield has risen 20 basis points since Dec. 5 despite a quarter percentage point policy rate cut delivered in the latest policy review. To be sure, the benchmark yield eased to 6.63% on Dec 23 from 6.66% a day earlier, after touching 6.70% – the highest since March.
“The upward pressure on yields reflects adverse demand supply facing the market, with supply of state government bonds expected to rise in the fourth quarter of FY26,” said Gaura Sengupta, chief economist, IDFC First Bank. State governments collectively raised Rs 337.20 billion through bond sales on Dec 23 at cutoff yields higher than expected, as investors demanded steeper rates.
Liquidity conditions are expected to improve toward month-end as government spending returns to the system, traders said. Separately, Bank of India raised Rs 100 billion long term infrastructure bonds at 7.23%. The government-owned bank received a total of 83 bids amounting to Rs.153.05 billion. Out of this, the bank accepted 37 bids amounting to Rs. 100 billion, it said in a statement.
UPI Spikes In India, But Some States Are Still In Slow Lane
India’s UPI success story looks very different once population is taken out of the equation. Headline transaction volumes suggest a nationwide digital payments surge, but per-capita data shows a country moving at very different speeds, reported the media. Normalising state-wise UPI volumes and values by population as of November 2025 reveals stark contrasts in adoption depth. Maharashtra, the country’s largest state economy, records nearly seven times the per-capita UPI transactions of Bihar. Telangana, ranked second nationally, logs more than six times the average usage seen in Tripura. Tamil Nadu and Kerala sit comfortably above the national mean, while Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal remain near the bottom, underscoring a persistent digital divide.
UPI today processes over 20 billion transactions a month and accounts for roughly 85% of India’s digital payments. Yet intensity of use tracks income levels, urbanisation and merchant acceptance far more closely than sheer population size. Once adjusted for population, smaller and more urbanised regions rise to the top. Delhi leads with about 23.9 transactions per person each month, followed closely by Goa at 23.3, Telangana at 22.6 and Chandigarh at 22.5.
Among large states, Maharashtra stands out with roughly 17.4 transactions per person, reflecting dense urban networks and widespread QR code adoption. Transaction values tell a similar story. Telangana tops the list with a per capita monthly UPI value of around Rs 34,800, ahead of Goa at Rs 33,500 and Delhi at Rs 31,300.
This points to routine use of UPI for higher-ticket payments across organised retail, services and professional activity.
Leaders At the other end of the spectrum, adoption remains shallow. Tripura and Bihar average fewer than four transactions per person a month, with per-capita values of roughly Rs 5,100 and Rs 5,400. Jharkhand, Assam and West Bengal cluster close behind.
In practical terms, a Delhi resident uses UPI about six times as often as someone in Bihar or Tripura, highlighting gaps in person-to-merchant infrastructure across eastern and north-eastern India. Regional patterns reinforce the divide.
A south-west corridor stretching from Maharashtra through Karnataka to Telangana shows consistently high frequency and value, signalling mature digital ecosystems. The north-east presents a mixed picture: Tripura and Assam lag, while Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim report relatively higher per-capita usage, possibly reflecting greater reliance on digital payments in difficult terrain where cash access is limited.
The takeaway is a multi-speed digital economy. As UPI enters its next phase of growth, closing the per-capita gap will hinge on wider smartphone penetration, more reliable connectivity and faster merchant onboarding in lagging states. The technology is already ubiquitous; its depth of use is not.