(GIST OF YOJANA) A Silent storm: Why India Must Act on Nitrogen Pollution and Climate Change

GIST OF YOJANA : A Silent storm: Why India Must Act on Nitrogen Pollution and Climate Change

JULY-2025

A Silent storm: Why India Must Act on Nitrogen Pollution and Climate Change

Context:

India, home to 1.4 billion people and a significant contributor to global agricultural output, finds itself at the centre of this storm. A 2018 Nature India report labelled the country a global hotspot for nitrogen pollution, citing low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), excessive urea application, and unregulated livestock and waste emissions as key contributors. Global estimates show that only half of the nitrogen applied in agriculture is utilised by crops. The rest is lost to the environment, contaminating water, air, and ecosystems. The environmental cost of nitrogen pollution in India is estimated to be around USD 78 billion annually

Key highlights:

India's agricultural intensification relies heavily on nitrogen (N) fertilisers, but the system is inefficient. An assessment finds India applies about 17 million tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser per year, yet plants absorb only roughly 33 per cent of the N added to the major cereal crops (rice and wheat).
In other words, about two-thirds of applied N remains in the soil or escapes to the environment. This enormous 'loss' of fertilizer N translates into a massive pollutant load: nutrients leach into groundwater and surface water or volatilise into air. Nutrient¬ tracking studies show that key states in India's grain belt—Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and nearby regions— carry the highest N surpluses.
For example, recent data indicate nitrogen surplus in Punjab reached an astonishing234kgN/ha/ yr by 2017 (up from approx 24kgN/ ha in1966),and in Haryana it rose to 276 kg N/ha/yr. These 'breadbasket' states, plus Bihar, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, consistently exhibit far higher N surpluses per hectare than the national average.

Key concerns:

The Government of India has acknowledged this silent crisis and has taken numerous proactive measures. Fertiliser industries are now mandated to meet strict emission norms with 24x7 Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) in place. The
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR} promotes neem- coated urea, soil test-based nutrient management, and the 4Rprinciple of nutrient stewardship— right source, right rate, right time, and right place. The Soil Health Card Scheme has been instrumental in collecting data and guiding farmers on balanced fertiliser application.
Urban nitrogen loads are being addressed through upgrades in sewage treatment infrastructure under schemes such as AMRUT and the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Meanwhile, real-time air quality monitoring by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards has identified nitrogen oxides as major urban pollutants. Stricter vehicle emission norms (BS-VI), fuel upgrades, and enforcement of pollution control in industries have also been rolled out.
Despite these efforts, the urgency for integrated action is mounting. Nitrogen pollution mitigation could offset 5-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG} reductions needed to stay within the global warming target. In India, where agriculture is the largest source of N20 emissions, coordinated nitrogen policies can yield enormous climate co-benefits. While India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) currently do not make specific reference to nitrogen, the scope for incorporating it in future strategies remains considerable.
China set a target for a zero increase in fertiliser use in 2015, which has shown results. The EU’s Nitrates Directive limits nitrogen application in vulnerable zones and has seen improvements in groundwater quality and farm efficiency. Sri Lanka's abrupt ban on synthetic fertilisers in 2021, however, led to sharp declines in crop yields and farmer protests, highlighting the dangers of blanket bans without transition support.
While the climate gains of managing nitrogen pollution are significant, the greater value lies in local air and water quality improvements, making it politically attractive for countries prioritising domestic benefits. However, challenges remain in policy design, farmer behaviour change, and avoiding pollution trade-offs, requiring integrated, context- specific nitrogen management.

Measures need to be taken:

Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships with Agriculture: India can deepen its partnerships across the agriculture sector to reduce nutrient losses. Taking cues from global models like the EPA-USDA collaboration, ICAR, state agriculture universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), and private innovators could collaborate to build strong field- level networks. This will help target nutrient management interventions—such as promoting neem-coated urea or precision application—in areas where pollution is most severe, like the Gangetic basin. Highlighting success stories from progressive farmers and state-led initiatives (e.g., Andhra Pradesh's natural farming programme) can inspire others to adopt cleaner practices.
Support States and Rural Communities with Integrated Water Strategies: The One Water approach—treating all water sources [groundwater, surface water, and wastewater) holistically—can guide nutrient management. States should be encouraged to use integrated nutrient budgeting across sectors like agriculture, wastewater, and rural sanitation. Special support must go to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, such as tribal districts in Odisha or Northeast India, with financing options to adopt biofertilisers, drip irrigation, or decentralised waste management systems that reduce nitrogen runoff.
Use India’s Environmental Regulations to Drive Progress and Innovation: India's existing legal frameworks— such as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment Protection Act—can be strengthened to include numeric standards for nitrate levels in lakes, rivers, and groundwater. Just as the Clean Water Act enables states in the US to implement Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for pollutants, Indian states could use similar basin-level plans. The Central and State Pollution Control Boards must be empowered to incentivise innovation in effluent standards, especially in food processing and agro-industries.
Launch a National Nitrogen Mission: A dedicated National Nitrogen Mission should be created to provide high-level, cross-sectoral coordination across the Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Health, and Water. The mission can set national goals to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE), reduce nitrous oxide (N20) emissions, and enhance soil and water quality. The mission should fund research on nitrification inhibitors, mobile soil labs, and innovation pilots.
Integrate Nitrogen into India's Climate Commitments: Currently, N20 emissions are not included in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Including these emissions would reflect the full environmental cost of nitrogen use and could open doors to international climate finance. For example, setting a goal to reduce nitrogen fertiliser emissions by 20 per cent over 10 years could become part of India's national climate reporting under the Paris Agreement.

Conclusion:

With improved nitrogen management, India can move closer to a sustainable future—boosting yields, safeguarding ecosystems, and delivering cleaner air and water to millions. The time to act is now. Let India lead the way in making this invisible crisis a visible policy priority.