Evaluation of cooking practices in India to achieve SDGs 7.1.2

Abstract

Developing nations, like India use biomass as their main energy source. This includes wood, coal, manure, and agricultural waste. The majority of rural homes utilize traditional cooking techniques that require burning biomass. This procedure emits dangerous gases and particulates into the air, increasing the risk of indoor and outdoor air pollution and serious health problems like asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular disorders. Although they are available, alternative energy sources are not widely used. This study aimed to assess the health effects of different cooking fuels, their emissions, and their cooking behaviors in rural India. It evaluated the impact of government initiatives to lower emissions as well. The study examined 109 studies published between 2014 and 2024 that focused on indoor pollutants such as CO, NO₂, SO₂, and particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀). The results showed that particulate matter significantly affects poor health outcomes. The most convenient and safest cooking fuel to use was found to be LPG. Nevertheless, despite government programs like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, adoption rates were low in places like Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. According to the analysis, both population increase and poor infrastructure can be blamed for the scheme's limited efficacy. Further studies should be conducted to track emissions and evaluate the practical effects of switching to clean fuels.