Metrology for Atmospheric Environment: Part I: Atmospheric Constituents

The chapter provides an assessment of environmental governance in India which includes the need of environmental metrology, ideal quality infrastructure, interface between stakeholders and the role of National Metrology Institute (NMI). The chapter also discusses the training needs for developing human resources to implement best measurement practices for improving the quality of measurement data. An attempt has also been made to estimate the potential economic impacts of improving the existing quality framework in India. Apex level test and calibration facilities for all of the environmental and emission monitoring systems are currently not available in the country. The lack of these facilities in India is not only a major constraint for industries dealing with manufacturing/production of environmental monitoring equipment but also to user organizations/agencies in respect of ascertaining the data quality. Realizing this need, the Government of India has designated the CSIR-NPL as the national agency for certifying instruments and equipments for monitoring emissions and ambient air. To cater to this need a ‘CSIR-NPL India Certificate Scheme (NPLI CS)’ has been developed to provide certification of performance evaluation of air pollution monitoring equipment. In addition, technologies developed by CSIR-NPL in the field atmospheric measurements are also discussed along with the capacity building efforts undertaken in this field by CSIR-NPL.