On December 18, 2025, Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Rajya Sabha there is no direct link between higher Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and lung diseases. He said, “no conclusive data” exists to establish this connection. Mr. Singh admitted that air pollution is one of the “triggering factors” for respiratory ailments. The statement was in response to BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpayee’s question on health impacts caused by prolonged hazardous AQI levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Bajpayee asked if lung elasticity in Delhi residents had reduced by half compared to cities with good air quality and if the government had plans to protect citizens from diseases like pulmonary fibrosis and COPD. Mr. Singh gave a brief reply, confirming no direct correlation was found. In another reply to Congress MP Randeep Surjewala, Mr. Singh said no data proves air pollution alone causes death. He called health effects a “synergistic manifestation” of factors like food, job, income, medical history, immunity, and heredity. The minister detailed government actions, including the creation of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in 2020. CAQM has issued 95 statutory orders to curb pollution. However, the Supreme Court recently called CAQM’s efforts a “total failure” in controlling Delhi NCR air pollution. Many studies, including Indian research, link air pollution to rising asthma and chronic lung problems. Experts note air pollution's health impacts develop slowly and are hard to directly prove, unlike smoking’s link to lung cancer shown by Doll and Hill. One 2011 Indian study compared children’s lung functions in Delhi versus cleaner rural areas, showing more respiratory issues in Delhi. Despite challenges in proving direct links, the government continues efforts to improve air quality and public health.