Delhi’s public education system is taking a bold step to combat the city’s chronic air‑pollution problem. Under a new scheme announced by the Delhi government, 10,000 classrooms across 38,000 government schools will be fitted with high‑efficiency air‑purifying units. The move, detailed in a Jagran report, aims to safeguard the health of millions of students and staff while setting a precedent for other Indian states. This article examines the scale of the rollout, the criteria used to select schools, the technology partners involved, projected health benefits, and the challenges that lie ahead.
The scale of the rollout
Delhi’s education department has earmarked a budget of ₹1,200 crore for the initiative, making it one of the largest public‑health investments in the city’s schooling system. The plan targets 10,000 classrooms in the first phase, with an eventual goal of covering every classroom in the selected schools. By focusing on high‑traffic areas such as Delhi’s North, West, and South districts, the program hopes to reduce indoor particulate matter (PM2.5) levels by up to 70 % during peak pollution months.
Selection criteria and the 38,000 schools
Out of roughly 45,000 government‑run schools in Delhi, 38,000 were shortlisted based on a transparent scoring matrix:
- Location in high‑pollution zones (air‑quality monitoring data)
- Student enrollment numbers (schools with >200 students prioritized)
- Existing infrastructure readiness (availability of power sockets and ventilation)
- Historical absenteeism rates linked to respiratory illnesses
The following table, updated to 19 December 2025, shows a snapshot of the distribution across key districts:
| District | Schools selected | Classrooms slated for purifiers |
|---|---|---|
| North Delhi | 9,800 | 2,600 |
| South Delhi | 8,400 | 2,200 |
| West Delhi | 7,600 | 2,000 |
| East Delhi | 6,200 | 1,800 |
| Central Delhi | 6,000 | 1,400 |
Technology and implementation partners
The Delhi government has signed a public‑private partnership with leading air‑purifier manufacturers, including Philips, Blueair, and local start‑up AirVeda. Each unit meets the HEPA‑13 standard, capable of filtering particles as small as 0.3 µm. Installation will be overseen by a dedicated task force comprising engineers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and health experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Schools will receive training modules for teachers and maintenance staff to ensure proper usage and periodic filter replacement.
Expected health and academic impact
Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) links improved indoor air quality to better cognitive performance and reduced absenteeism. Delhi’s pilot studies from 2023‑24 showed a 15 % drop in respiratory‑related sick days after installing purifiers in 500 classrooms. Extrapolating these results, the government anticipates:
- Reduction of asthma attacks among students by up to 30 %
- Improvement in average test scores by 3‑5 % due to enhanced concentration
- Long‑term public‑health savings estimated at ₹2,500 crore over the next decade
Challenges and future outlook
While the initiative is ambitious, several hurdles remain. Power reliability in older school buildings, timely procurement of replacement filters, and ensuring equitable distribution across all socioeconomic zones are critical concerns. Moreover, critics argue that the focus on indoor solutions should not replace broader efforts to curb outdoor pollution, such as stricter vehicle emission norms and expansion of green cover. The Delhi administration has pledged to monitor air‑quality metrics quarterly and publish transparent progress reports on its official portal.
In conclusion, the deployment of air purifiers in 10,000 Delhi school classrooms represents a proactive response to an urgent public‑health crisis. By targeting the most vulnerable learners, the program promises measurable health benefits, modest academic gains, and a template for other megacities grappling with polluted air. Success will hinge on diligent implementation, continuous monitoring, and complementary policies aimed at reducing the city’s overall pollution burden.
Image by: Agung Pandit Wiguna
https://www.pexels.com/@panditwiguna
