Pariksha SaathiAATAL, a 'first-of-its-kind' air pollution analysis laboratory for Delhi-NCR, opens at IITM's Delhi branch
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh on 24 October 2026 inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the Delhi branch of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), describing it as a first-of-its-kind integrated facility in the world. Set up under Mission Mausam, it goes beyond air-quality index numbers to analyse what pollutants consist of (including PM2.5, metals and toxic elements), identify their sources in real time - vehicles, industry, biomass and crop-residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollution carried in from neighbouring regions - and estimate each source's share. It is integrated with IITM's AIRWISE (Air Quality Warning and Integrated Decision Support System for Emissions), which gives forecasts at a resolution of 400 metres for the next 72 hours, and is meant to help the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) target measures, including those under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
The Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years, to create a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat. Three institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences primarily implement it: the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Its focus includes monsoon forecasts and alerts for air quality, extreme weather events and cyclones.
Check yourself: when was Mission Mausam approved, with what outlay, and which three institutes primarily implement it?
On 11 September 2024, with ₹2,000 crore over two years; IMD, IITM and NCMRWF.
Revision task: from this release, note the laboratory's name, where it is, the mission it comes under, the pollution sources it tells apart and AIRWISE's forecast resolution and range; from the note, Mission Mausam's approval date, outlay and three implementing institutes.
Test yourself
Which air pollution analysis laboratory for Delhi-NCR was inaugurated at IITM's Delhi branch on 24 October 2026?
Show the answer
Answer: AATAL
The Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) was set up under Mission Mausam. It works with IITM's AIRWISE system, which forecasts air quality at a 400-metre resolution for 72 hours.
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