India establishes National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) for air pollution monitoring

Key facts

• India has established the world's second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in New Delhi.
• The NESL will develop testing and calibration facilities for air pollution monitoring equipment to reduce dependence on foreign certification systems.
• At present, the United Kingdom (UK) is the only other country in the world to possess such a laboratory.
• The facility aims to address measurement anomalies caused by high dust load, humidity, and temperature differences prevalent in Indian environmental conditions.
• The laboratory will provide validated performance data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), industrial emission audits, and smart-city monitoring networks.
• Union Science & Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the laboratory during the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR-NPL.