Which of the following institution has developed a new Decision Support System (DSS) and extended the ability of the existing air quality early warning system (AQEWS) to have decision-making capability for air quality management in Delhi – NCR region in October 2021?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

Explanation:

• The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, developed the Decision Support System (DSS) and integrated it with the existing Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) to enhance air quality management in the Delhi-NCR region.
• This development was officially launched on October 19, 2021, by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. The DSS employs advanced modeling techniques to provide detailed forecasts and source-specific information, aiding policymakers in making informed decisions to mitigate air pollution.​

Information Booster:

Key Features of the DSS:

• Source Attribution: Quantifies contributions to PM2.5 levels from various sectors within Delhi and neighboring districts.​
• Emission Reduction Scenarios: Simulates the impact of potential emission control measures on air quality.​
• Biomass Burning Analysis: Assesses the influence of stubble burning in adjacent states on Delhi's air quality.​
• Enhanced Forecasting: Provides up to 5-day forecasts with high accuracy, especially during high pollution events.​

Collaborations and Partnerships:

• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): Assisted in preparing the updated emission inventory for the region.​
• IMD (India Meteorological Department): Collaborated in integrating meteorological data for accurate forecasting.​
• CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing): Contributed to computational support for the system.