In a push to strengthen its fight against air pollution, the Delhi government is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AIRAWAT Research Foundation (ARF), an organisation linked to IIT Kanpur.
The agreement will pave the way for the use of artificial intelligence, sensor-based technologies, and data analytics to improve how air quality is monitored, analysed, and managed in the national capital.
The proposed collaboration between the Environment Department and ARF aims to create an integrated, technology-driven system capable of delivering real-time and hyperlocal air quality insights. The initiative will focus on detailed monitoring at the local level, forecasting pollution trends, identifying emission sources, and building decision-support and policy-support systems. It will also include efforts to enhance institutional capacity within government agencies dealing with environmental management.
Officials said the move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen data-driven governance and deliver measurable improvements in air quality while protecting public health. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that addressing Delhi's persistent air pollution problem requires transparent, science-based, and technology-led solutions. He noted that the government is committed to deploying every available scientific and technical resource to safeguard residents' health, and described the partnership as a step toward creating a more responsive and intelligent environmental governance framework.
The minister also clarified that the MoU, in its initial phase, will not involve any financial commitment from the Delhi government. He described it as a knowledge partnership designed to assess the capabilities and practical applications of ARF's AI-based air quality systems. As part of this exploratory phase, ARF will examine the feasibility of conducting studies and deploying its technology without cost.
Sirsa stressed that effective action against air pollution must be grounded in reliable data and scientific methodologies. He said the government intends to ensure that policy decisions and on-ground interventions are backed by robust evidence and implemented with better coordination.