Environmental quality in India: Application of environmental Kuznets curve and Sustainable Human Development Index.

Abstract: This study explores the trend of selected air pollutants, carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen dioxide NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and particulate matter 10 microns in diameter (PM₁₀) in India. Environmental Kuznets curves (EKC), which show the association of the economy and pollution, are fitted for selected Indian states to understand whether EKC in India fits well with the inverted “U” shape. We observed that CO₂ and PM₁₀ are steadily increasing in India. The states of Kerala and Punjab follow the inverted “U” shape of EKC, while Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Maharashtra may take decades to reduce pollutants. A new Sustainable Human Development Index calculated in this paper indicates a diverse picture of Indian states, especially in regard to environmental parameters. The government needs to implement stringent, state‐specific laws and regulations to assist in curbing air pollutants. The time has also come to represent the rankings of states in terms of an environmentally inclusive development index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]