The selection of air quality monitors plays an elemental role in preparing preventive and protective action plans on regional as well as global scales. In 2019, Hindustan Times kindled a discussion on the rising number of non-attainment cities across the country. That is to say, a non-attainment city fails to comply with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards. This noncompliance is defined for a period of more than 5 consecutive years.

The National Clean Air Programme has listed 122 non-attainment cities across the country. To understand the extent of these pollution levels, monitoring is a crucial step. Moreover, a network of continuous air quality monitoring systems can provide datasets to indicate pollution hotspots. These air quality monitors further help in preparing policies and action plans; aimed at curbing those pollution levels.