National Knowledge Network (NKN) Formed

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) strategy document envisages Technology Assessment Cell to evaluate significant technologies with reference to prevention, control, and abatement of pollution.

In this regard, MoEFCC issued guidelines for National Knowledge Network (NKN) and Institutes of Repute (IoR) under National Clean Air Programme on 22.09.2022. National Knowledge Network (NKN) has been formed with a vision to build local technical capacities in order to have a larger pool of institutes to support activities under NCAP. NKN extends support on scientific & technical knowledge and laboratory based information, monitoring the progress of NCAP implementation and evaluate the performance. It provides recommendations for air quality management measures including specific research need and policy initiative to meet the objectives of the NCAP programme.

NKN consists of experts from IIT Kanpur, IIT Mumbai, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), officials from Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board/ Pollution Control Committees (CPCB & SPCB/PCCs), and independent experts.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 12 December 2022.