The Crossbill News Desk
Delhi has once again retained its title as the world’s most polluted national capital, marking the sixth consecutive year at the top, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report.
The city recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³, far exceeding safe limits.
The report, published by Swiss air technology company IQAir, revealed that India remains heavily affected by air pollution, with 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities located within its borders.
Byrnihat, a town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, topped the list as the most polluted city globally. Other Indian cities with severe pollution levels include Faridabad, Loni (Ghaziabad), Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Noida, Muzaffarnagar, and multiple areas within Delhi, including Central Delhi.
Despite the alarming levels of pollution, India's global ranking in terms of pollution improved slightly, dropping from third place in 2023 to fifth in 2024. This was due to a 7% reduction in PM2.5 levels, which fell from an average of 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023 to 50.6 µg/m³ in 2024.
However, this figure still remains ten times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³.
According to the report, 35% of Indian cities have PM2.5 levels exceeding ten times the WHO-prescribed limits. Most of these cities are concentrated in northwest India, spanning Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
Notable highly polluted locations include Bhiwadi, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan; Mullanpur in Punjab; Faridabad and Gurugram in Haryana; and Loni, Muzaffarnagar, Noida, and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
The impact of air pollution in India is severe, with the report estimating a reduction of 5.2 years in average life expectancy due to prolonged exposure to toxic air.
Globally, only seven countries managed to meet the WHO’s prescribed annual PM2.5 level of 5 µg/m³. These include Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand. Oceania emerged as the region with the cleanest air, with 57% of its cities meeting WHO standards. The region includes Australia, French Polynesia, and New Zealand.
Despite a marginal decline in pollution levels, the NCR region, particularly Delhi, continues to grapple with hazardous air quality.
In 2024, New Delhi’s annual PM2.5 concentration stood at 91.6 µg/m³—only slightly lower than 92.7 µg/m³ recorded in 2023—indicating that pollution control efforts have had limited impact.
With air pollution continuing to pose a serious public health threat, the report calls for urgent intervention, stronger policies, and long-term solutions to combat deteriorating air quality across India.
The city recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³, far exceeding safe limits.
The report, published by Swiss air technology company IQAir, revealed that India remains heavily affected by air pollution, with 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities located within its borders.
Byrnihat, a town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, topped the list as the most polluted city globally. Other Indian cities with severe pollution levels include Faridabad, Loni (Ghaziabad), Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Noida, Muzaffarnagar, and multiple areas within Delhi, including Central Delhi.
Despite the alarming levels of pollution, India's global ranking in terms of pollution improved slightly, dropping from third place in 2023 to fifth in 2024. This was due to a 7% reduction in PM2.5 levels, which fell from an average of 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023 to 50.6 µg/m³ in 2024.
However, this figure still remains ten times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³.
According to the report, 35% of Indian cities have PM2.5 levels exceeding ten times the WHO-prescribed limits. Most of these cities are concentrated in northwest India, spanning Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
Notable highly polluted locations include Bhiwadi, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan; Mullanpur in Punjab; Faridabad and Gurugram in Haryana; and Loni, Muzaffarnagar, Noida, and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
The impact of air pollution in India is severe, with the report estimating a reduction of 5.2 years in average life expectancy due to prolonged exposure to toxic air.
Globally, only seven countries managed to meet the WHO’s prescribed annual PM2.5 level of 5 µg/m³. These include Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand. Oceania emerged as the region with the cleanest air, with 57% of its cities meeting WHO standards. The region includes Australia, French Polynesia, and New Zealand.
Despite a marginal decline in pollution levels, the NCR region, particularly Delhi, continues to grapple with hazardous air quality.
In 2024, New Delhi’s annual PM2.5 concentration stood at 91.6 µg/m³—only slightly lower than 92.7 µg/m³ recorded in 2023—indicating that pollution control efforts have had limited impact.
With air pollution continuing to pose a serious public health threat, the report calls for urgent intervention, stronger policies, and long-term solutions to combat deteriorating air quality across India.
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