India, Dec. 31 -- The new year begins with most of northern India under a blanket of noxious smog that has endangered the lives of millions of people, qualifying it as among the foremost public health emergencies for the republic. Most Indian cities now have long stretches of bad air, and smaller towns often have worse pollution and a non-existent monitoring framework. The crisis has failed to break the glass ceiling of petty blame games and political posturing. Bad air is bad for the country, for public health, for the economy, and for national image. No country can hope to be developed when many of its citizens cannot step out due to hazardous pollution. 2026 will need to be the year when the political leadership will have to show just ...