diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c554bd61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# API Keys Configuration
+# Copy this file to .env and fill in your actual API keys
+
+# OpenWeatherMap API (for weather and air quality data)
+# Get your free API key from: https://openweathermap.org/api
+OPENWEATHER_API_KEY=your_openweathermap_api_key_here
+
+# Visual Crossing API (for monthly weather data)
+# Get your free API key from: https://www.visualcrossing.com/weather-api
+VISUALCROSSING_API_KEY=your_visualcrossing_api_key_here
+
+# News API (for crime news)
+# Get your free API key from: https://newsapi.org/
+NEWS_API_KEY=your_news_api_key_here
+
+# Google Custom Search API (for chatbot functionality)
+# Get your API key from: https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/introduction
+GOOGLE_API_KEY=your_google_api_key_here
+
+# Google Custom Search Engine ID
+# Create a custom search engine at: https://cse.google.com/
+CSE_ID=your_custom_search_engine_id_here
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..362d098c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Environment variables
+.env
+.env.local
+.env.*.local
+
+# Python
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+*.so
+.Python
+env/
+venv/
+ENV/
+env.bak/
+venv.bak/
+.venv/
+
+# Streamlit
+.streamlit/
+
+# IDE
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+
+# OS
+.DS_Store
+.DS_Store?
+._*
+.Spotlight-V100
+.Trashes
+ehthumbs.db
+Thumbs.db
+
+# Logs
+*.log
+
+# Temporary files
+*.tmp
+*.temp
+
+# API Keys and secrets (additional security)
+config/secrets.py
+secrets.json
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bab0a7b2..403441fa 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,10 +37,51 @@ City Pulse is a sleek, real-time dashboard built with **Streamlit** that provide
 
 ---
 
-## 📦 Installation
+## 📦 Installation & Setup
 
+### 1. Clone the Repository
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/your-username/CITY-PULSE.git
+cd CITY-PULSE
+```
+
+### 2. Install Dependencies
 ```bash
-git clone https://github.com/your-username/city-pulse.git
-cd city-pulse
 pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+### 3. Set Up Environment Variables
+1. Copy the example environment file:
+   ```bash
+   cp .env.example .env
+   ```
+
+2. Edit the `.env` file and add your API keys:
+   ```bash
+   # Required API Keys
+   OPENWEATHER_API_KEY=your_openweathermap_api_key_here
+   VISUALCROSSING_API_KEY=your_visualcrossing_api_key_here
+   NEWS_API_KEY=your_news_api_key_here
+   GOOGLE_API_KEY=your_google_api_key_here
+   CSE_ID=your_custom_search_engine_id_here
+   ```
+
+### 4. Get Your API Keys
+- **OpenWeatherMap API**: [Get free API key](https://openweathermap.org/api)
+- **Visual Crossing API**: [Get free API key](https://www.visualcrossing.com/weather-api)
+- **News API**: [Get free API key](https://newsapi.org/)
+- **Google Custom Search API**: [Get API key](https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/introduction)
+- **Custom Search Engine**: [Create CSE](https://cse.google.com/)
+
+### 5. Run the Application
+```bash
 streamlit run app.py
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🚨 Security Notice
+
+This application requires API keys to function properly. **Never commit your `.env` file or expose your API keys publicly**. The `.env` file is already included in `.gitignore` to prevent accidental commits.
+
+---
diff --git a/utils/chatbot.py b/utils/chatbot.py
index 60822764..a43da86a 100644
--- a/utils/chatbot.py
+++ b/utils/chatbot.py
@@ -1,10 +1,20 @@
 # utils/chatbot.py
 
 import requests
+import os
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
-# Replace these with env variables or config if you want
-GOOGLE_API_KEY = "AIzaSyAIQcBW-1Wmx4Z8vuvyibvrum9dS0HgheI"
-CSE_ID = "41a7d2bcb1d014824"
+load_dotenv()
+
+# Load API keys from environment variables
+GOOGLE_API_KEY = os.getenv("GOOGLE_API_KEY")
+CSE_ID = os.getenv("CSE_ID")
+
+# Validate that required environment variables are set
+if not GOOGLE_API_KEY:
+    raise ValueError("Missing required environment variable: GOOGLE_API_KEY")
+if not CSE_ID:
+    raise ValueError("Missing required environment variable: CSE_ID")
 
 def search_google(query):
     try: