Air Pollution Crisis
India continues to grapple with severe air pollution, as a new World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss firm IQAir reveals that 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in the country. Byrnihat in Assam takes the top spot as the world’s most polluted city, while Delhi retains its title as the most polluted capital globally.
Air Pollution Crisis
India’s Air Quality: A Mixed Picture
India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in 2024, an improvement from third place in 2023. The nation did witness a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre—down from 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre the previous year. However, the report highlights that six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are still in India, emphasizing that pollution remains a massive public health crisis.
Air Pollution Crisis
Delhi’s Battle with Pollution Continues
Delhi’s pollution levels remain alarmingly high, with an annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly unchanged from 92.7 in 2023. For perspective, this is nearly 18 times higher than the WHO’s safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
The 13 Indian Cities Among the World’s 20 Most Polluted:
- Byrnihat (Assam)
- Delhi
- Mullanpur (Punjab)
- Faridabad
- Loni
- New Delhi
- Gurugram
- Ganganagar
- Greater Noida
- Bhiwadi
- Muzaffarnagar
- Hanumangarh
- Noida
In total, 35% of Indian cities have PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO’s recommended limit.
Air Pollution Crisis
Health Crisis: Air Pollution Shortening Indian Lives
According to research published in The Lancet Planetary Health, around 1.5 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution. Air pollution is slashing the average Indian’s life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist, emphasizes that while India has improved air quality data collection, action is still lacking.
Air Pollution Crisis
“We have the data, now we need action,” she says.
She suggests simple yet effective solutions, such as expanding India’s LPG subsidy program to reduce biomass burning, a major contributor to pollution. While the first LPG cylinder is free under government schemes, poorest families need additional subsidies to afford regular refills, benefiting both their health and the environment.
Air Pollution Crisis
Other measures include:
✅ Expanding public transport to reduce vehicle emissions
✅ Fining high-emission vehicles
✅ Strict enforcement of industrial and construction site regulations
Despite a small decline in pollution levels, India’s air quality crisis remains a serious threat to public health. Without bold policies, strict enforcement, and community-driven efforts, millions will continue to suffer from the deadly effects of air pollution.
