Pollution occurs when harmful substances or forms of energy—such as chemicals, particulate matter, noise, or plastic—are introduced into the environment faster than it can process or neutralize them, affecting air, water, soil, and ecosystems at large. In India, this crisis is especially acute, with numerous cities ranking among the most polluted globally and average life expectancy reduced by several years due to degraded air quality Encyclopedia Britannica+1The Economic Times. The contaminants stem from diverse sources: vehicle emissions, coal-based power plants, industrial effluents, stubble burning, construction dust, and inefficient waste disposal Encyclopedia BritannicaScientia TutorialsStudy IQ Education. The impacts on human health are profound, ranging from respiratory diseases, cardiovascular ailments, neurological disorders, and cancer, to significant increases in premature deaths—nearly 1.7 million annually in India alone CoverfoxEncyclopedia BritannicaThe Economic Times. Pollution also accelerates climate change, degrades ecosystems, contaminates water bodies, reduces soil fertility, and leads to biodiversity loss through acid rain, toxic runoff, and habitat destruction Shifat Info