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Supreme Court Orders Sports Competition Reschedule to Safer Months Amid Delhi-NCR Pollution Crisis

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 6:36 GMT by DNA India

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Supreme Court Orders Shift of National Sports Competition to Safer Months, Grants Subsistence Allowance amid Delhi‑NCR Pollution Crisis

In a landmark ruling that underscores the growing urgency of tackling air pollution in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Supreme Court (SC) today directed the Central Air‑Quality Management Board (CAQM) to relocate the forthcoming national sports competition to a period when particulate‑matter levels are expected to be markedly lower. The Court also ordered the CAQM to award a subsistence allowance to the athletes, coaches and support staff who will be displaced by the change in schedule.

The decision was reached after a series of petitions filed by environmental groups and sports federations that highlighted the detrimental effects of Delhi’s choking smog on athletes’ health and performance. The SC’s order is part of a larger mandate that the Court has imposed on CAQM in 2022 to formulate a concrete “Delhi‑NCR Pollution Action Plan” – a plan that must balance economic activity with the health imperative of protecting residents and visitors alike.

Why the Shift?

Delhi NCR has long been besieged by hazardous concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and ground‑level ozone. Data released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF‑CC) shows that in 2022 the region recorded more than 30 days with PM₂.₅ levels above 300 µg/m³ – a figure that surpasses the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 25 µg/m³. The SC cited a 2023 report from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi that linked such high pollution levels to a 12 % increase in respiratory ailments among athletes during peak training periods.

The national sports competition, originally slated for early December 2023, is scheduled to take place in the sprawling Sports Complex in the Gurgaon district, a part of the NCR. The SC noted that historical pollution data for December – a month that typically coincides with the dry, dust‑laden season – showed the highest concentrations of PM₂.₅ in the city. Consequently, the Court mandated that CAQM identify a “safer month” for the event, one with historically lower PM₂.₅ readings. Preliminary analysis by CAQM points to late January–early February 2024 as the most viable window, with average daily PM₂.₅ levels hovering between 75 µg/m³ and 90 µg/m³ – still above WHO standards, but markedly lower than December.

The Subsistence Allowance

The shift of the competition will inevitably affect thousands of stakeholders. The SC’s order includes a provision for a “subsistence allowance” to be paid to 5,000 athletes, coaches, physiotherapists and other support personnel who will be required to relocate or adjust training schedules. The allowance is set at ₹10,000 per month for the duration of the competition, which the Court said should cover accommodation, transportation, and meal expenses incurred as a direct result of the rescheduling.

The CAQM is instructed to finalize the allowance figures and disbursement timelines within 30 days of the order. The Court emphasized that the allowance should be “adequate to cover the basic subsistence needs” of the affected individuals, in line with the provisions of the Indian Public Grievances Act.

CAQM’s Responsibilities

Under the SC’s directive, CAQM is now tasked with:

1. Drafting a Pollution‑Friendly Calendar – CAQM must produce a detailed calendar that maps air‑quality forecasts against potential competition dates, and present it to the Ministry of Sports and the Delhi‑NCR Sports Authority for approval.
2. Co‑ordinating with Local Municipalities – The Board must liaise with the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon, the Greater Noida Authority, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to ensure that temporary measures (e.g., road closures, traffic restrictions) are implemented during the competition period.
3. Monitoring Compliance – CAQM will deploy air‑quality monitoring stations across the competition site and surrounding areas, and publish real‑time data for public transparency.
4. Reporting Progress – A quarterly report on the effectiveness of the pollution mitigation measures will be submitted to the Supreme Court.

The SC’s order also reaffirms that CAQM must abide by the guidelines issued under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which calls for a 50 % reduction in PM₂.₅ levels by 2030.

Broader Context

The Supreme Court’s intervention comes amid a series of recent judgments aimed at curbing Delhi’s pollution. In 2021, the Court directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to tighten vehicular emissions standards, and in 2022 it ordered the Ministry of Environment to impose stricter controls on construction dust. The Delhi‑NCR region, which houses 55 million people and accounts for a large share of India’s industrial output, is particularly vulnerable to the health and economic impacts of air pollution.

Sports, which rely heavily on optimal physiological performance, are especially sensitive to particulate pollution. A study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) found that exposure to high PM₂.₅ concentrations can impair lung function and cardiovascular health in athletes, potentially leading to lower performance and increased injury risk.

Reactions

The decision has been welcomed by several sports federations. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) called the Court’s ruling a “step in the right direction” and pledged to cooperate fully with CAQM. Conversely, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) expressed concerns that shifting the competition could strain logistics and increase costs, but acknowledged that health and safety must come first.

Environmental NGOs such as the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) applauded the order and urged the government to accelerate implementation of the NCAP. “This is a signal that the Supreme Court is serious about protecting public health,” said CSE’s executive director, Dr. Anupam Sharma.

Moving Forward

The Supreme Court has granted a 15‑day period for CAQM to submit its proposed schedule and allowance plan. In the meantime, CAQM has announced that it will host a virtual workshop with the Ministry of Sports and the Delhi‑NCR Sports Authority to discuss logistical arrangements. The Court’s order is a clear reminder that India’s most populous urban centers must prioritize air quality management, not only to protect citizens but also to safeguard the nation’s sporting aspirations.

As the CAQM works to align the competition with safer months, stakeholders across the sporting and environmental sectors will be watching closely. The ruling sets a precedent for how environmental justice and athletic excellence can be mutually reinforced in the face of one of the most pressing public health crises of the 21st century.