India's ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation, or 'Viksit Bharat', by 2047 faces a formidable roadblock: systemic governance failures. Recent events, from the capricious handling of Delhi's toxic air to widespread aviation disruptions, underscore that stop-gap measures are insufficient for the sustained high growth required. A fundamental structural rethink in policy implementation and regulation is critically needed.
The On-Off Switch of Delhi's Pollution Crisis
The chaotic management of Delhi's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) this winter serves as a prime example of poor governance. Designed to combat the annual air quality emergency, GRAP stages were activated and deactivated in a haphazard, short-term manner rather than based on anticipatory forecasts.
Stage 3 of GRAP was activated on 11 November, withdrawn on 26 November, reinstated on the morning of 13 December, and then escalated to Stage 4 by the evening of the same day. After ten days, when air quality improved from 'very severe' to 'poor' on 24 December, authorities switched off Stage 4 despite forecasts predicting a renewed worsening—a prediction that proved accurate.
This reactive approach negates the plan's purpose. For vehicular and other measures to have a discernible impact, they must build up steadily. The on-off pattern causes severe economic and social disruption. Under Stage 4, all construction halts and load-bearing trucks (except for essentials) are banned, squeezing supplies to markets. School education shifts to hybrid mode, with closures for children up to Class 5, creating immense hardship for working parents.
Structural Problems Demand Consistent Policy
Improving air quality is not a luxury; it is a critical prerequisite for national growth ambitions. Uncurbed pollution destroys public health and productivity. However, if curbing pollution only means stopping economic activity—the movement of goods, people, and construction—then growth itself suffers.
The solution lies in structural, long-term measures, not just emergency GRAP interventions. Delhi's December pollution is fuelled by more than seasonal stubble burning. Persistent issues include coal-based power generation, industrial emissions, biomass burning for heat, and, most significantly, vehicular pollution. This is a nationwide affliction, with industrial suburbs like Delhi's Jahangirpuri regularly recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels beyond the maximum measurable limit of 500.
Policy inconsistency worsens the problem. For instance, a GST rate cut on 3 September, while boosting demand, reduced the tax on sub-4-meter vehicles from 28% to 18%. This inadvertently spurred demand for compact SUVs, which are heavier and more emission-intensive than standard small cars, potentially increasing net pollution.
Regulatory Lapses: The Case of Aviation Chaos
Governance failures extend beyond environmental policy. In the first week of December, IndiGo was forced to cancel around 1,000 flights on a single day, primarily due to a new pilot work schedule mandated by the aviation regulator. The rule demanded more pilots for scheduled flights but lacked a supervised compliance timeline or a phased implementation plan with the airlines.
This highlights a critical gap: regulation is not merely about issuing commands. It requires a systematic structure for follow-up and supervision. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) exemplifies better practice with separate departments for banking regulation and supervision. The aviation disruption, compounded later by Delhi's toxic air and fog, cascaded into widespread cancellations and delays, affecting rail and road transport of passengers and cargo.
The Imperative for Integrated Governance
These episodes point to two core governance imperatives. First, there must be a formal mechanism for inter-ministerial consultation on policies that impact jurisdictions beyond the originating ministry. A tax policy affecting pollution cannot be made in isolation. Second, regulatory agencies must be empowered and diligent in their supervisory roles, ensuring compliance, not just rule-making.
As India charts its course to 2047, it must confront these systemic weaknesses. The disruptions in transportation, health, and education from predictable annual events like pollution demand robust, forward-looking strategies, not knee-jerk reactions. The vision of a Viksit Bharat depends on moving beyond stop-gap measures to build a foundation of consistent, coordinated, and effectively supervised governance across all sectors.
