Meghan Hodges
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world. In 2023, it was ranked as the third most polluted country globally, and in 2024, it ranked fifth. India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city in the world. India's particulate air pollution is caused by industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the burning of crops and biomass for cooking and heating. The country has implemented initiatives to combat pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme, and it operates a large number of air quality monitoring stations. However, India's pollution levels remain a significant health burden, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global rank in pollution | 5th in 2024, 3rd in 2023 |
| Number of cities in the list of most polluted cities in the world | 13 of 20 in 2024, 6 of 10 in 2023 |
| Most polluted metropolitan area in India | Byrnihat in Meghalaya |
| Most polluted capital city in the world | New Delhi |
| Average PM 2.5 concentration in New Delhi | 102.1 µg/m3 |
| Number of cities in the list of 100 most polluted cities and towns in the world | 74 |
| Number of stations in India's air quality monitoring network | Over half of the total stations in South Asia |
| India's rank in climate change performance index in 2021 | 8th out of 63 countries |
| India's rank in per capita emissions of greenhouse gases | 3rd lowest |
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What You'll Learn
- India is the world's second most polluted country
- New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world
- India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines
- India's PM 2.5 concentration value exceeds the WHO guideline value by over 10 times
- India's pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions
India is the world's second most polluted country
In 2019, 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world were in India. A study based on 2016 data found that at least 140 million people in India breathe air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit. Thirteen of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India, and the country's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines. Delhi, India's capital, is the most polluted capital city in the world, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 102.1 µg/m3, 20 times over the WHO limit and more than two and a half times the national limit of 40 µg/m3.
In 2024, India ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area globally. However, this ranking may be due to the limited scope of air quality monitoring networks in other countries, which tend to capture urban areas only. India, in contrast, has a robust monitoring infrastructure, operating more than half of the total stations in South Asia. This means that India's national average is brought down by the inclusion of more rural and less polluted areas in its data.
India's poor air quality has severe health impacts on its population. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, air pollution shortens lives by 11.9 years. Overall, air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year and causes an estimated loss of US$28.8 billion worth of output.
To address this issue, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives. In 2015, the government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, launched the National Air Quality Index. In 2019, India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally relative to 2017 levels by 2024. The government also launched an Odd-Even Rule in November 2017, where cars with number plates ending in odd or even digits could only be driven on certain days of the week. Additionally, projects such as the 1,600-kilometre-long Great Green Wall of Aravalli ecological corridor aim to combat pollution by planting native trees.
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New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world
India is the second-most polluted country in the world, with 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities. In 2024, India ranked 5th globally, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area. In 2023, India was ranked as the third most polluted country globally.
New Delhi, the capital of India, has been ranked as the most polluted capital city in the world. In 2024, the air quality index of New Delhi dropped into the 'severe' category in November, according to SAFAR, India's main environmental agency. The city's air quality was recorded at a hazardous level of 1,081, leading the government to order schools to close and construction to cease. The following day, the reading dropped to 489, but New Delhi still remained the most polluted city in the world.
The poor air quality in New Delhi is attributed to various factors, including vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust and debris, and the burning of crops and biomass. The high levels of pollution have severe health implications for the city's residents, reducing their life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years on average.
To address the air pollution crisis, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives. In 2015, the government, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, launched the National Air Quality Index. Subsequently, in 2019, India introduced the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024. The NCAP focused on 102 cities that were not meeting the country's national annual PM5 standards. In 2022, the government announced a revamped target for the NCAP, increasing the reduction ambition to 40% relative to 2017 levels for 131 cities by 2025-26.
While these initiatives demonstrate India's commitment to improving air quality, the country continues to face challenges in accessing and analyzing timely and reliable air pollution data. The availability of such data is crucial for addressing public health crises and implementing effective solutions.
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India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines
India is the world's second most polluted country, with 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world being in India in 2019. A 2023 report by the University of Chicago found that air pollution in India reduces life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. India's cities continue to exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO) PM2.5 guidelines.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. These particles are approximately 30 times smaller than a human hair, making them a significant yet unseen threat to air quality. They are often a product of fuel wood and biomass burning, which is common in rural and urban India. In addition, industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the burning of crop residue in agriculture fields contribute to India's poor air quality.
The health impacts of PM2.5 pollution are severe. According to the WHO, exposure to air pollution causes millions of deaths and the loss of healthy years of life. In India, air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million people annually. It is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cancer. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years compared to the expected lifespan if the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m3 was met. In the National Capital Territory of Delhi, air pollution shortens lives by 11.9 years, making it the most polluted city in the world.
To address this issue, India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally relative to 2017 levels by 2024. The programme focused on 102 cities that were not meeting India's national annual PM5 standard. However, in 2022, the Indian government announced a revamped target, setting no national goal but increasing its ambition at the city level. The new goal aims for a 40% reduction relative to 2017 levels for 131 cities by 2025-26.
Despite these efforts, India's cities continue to struggle to meet the WHO PM2.5 guidelines. One challenge is the availability of reliable and timely data on air pollution. While data is available from Central and State pollution control board websites, it is often not easily accessible or analysis-ready. Improving the accessibility and timeliness of air quality data would enable Indian citizens to actively participate in addressing this public health crisis.
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India's PM 2.5 concentration value exceeds the WHO guideline value by over 10 times
India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue. The country ranked fifth among the most polluted countries in the world in 2024. In the same year, Byrnihat in Meghalaya was the most polluted metropolitan area globally, and Delhi was the most polluted capital. Of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 21 were in India in 2019. A study based on 2016 data revealed that at least 140 million people in India breathe air that is ten times or more over the WHO safe limit.
India's PM2.5 concentration value exceeds the WHO guideline value by over ten times. PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is considered the most hazardous air pollutant. It is produced by combustion sources, such as vehicles and industries, and non-combustion sources, like biomass burning for cooking and heating in rural areas. Exposure to PM2.5 pollution claims about 9 million lives globally each year, and a quarter of these deaths occur in India. The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in India is 40 μg/m3, which is eight times the revised global air quality guideline (AQG) of 5 μg/m3. However, the NAAQS may not provide adequate protection against the harmful components in PM2.5, as evidenced by the high number of PM2.5-related deaths in the country.
The Indian government has implemented various pollution mitigation schemes and public awareness programs to reduce PM2.5 levels. In 2019, India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with the initial target of reducing particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024. This target was later revised to focus on a 40% reduction in 131 non-attainment cities by 2025-26. Additionally, initiatives such as the Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometer-long ecological corridor, and the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility aim to combat pollution and improve air quality in India.
Despite these efforts, India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines. The high pollution levels in India are linked to rapid industrialization, unregulated emissions, construction, and deforestation. The country's per capita emissions of greenhouse gases are low, but it is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases globally. Air pollution in India has severe health consequences, reducing the average Indian's life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 to 5.3 years. It contributes to premature deaths, with 51% caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicle emissions, 17% by crop burning, and 5% by other sources.
Overall, India's PM2.5 concentration values highlight the urgent need for effective pollution control measures to improve air quality and protect the health of its citizens.
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India's pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions
India's pollution levels are a serious environmental issue. In 2024, India was ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide, with 13 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world located in India. The country's pollution levels are linked to a variety of factors, including rapid industrialization, unregulated emissions, construction, and deforestation.
Industrialization and emissions are key contributors to India's poor air quality. Industrial pollution accounts for 51% of the country's air pollution, with vehicular emissions contributing an additional 27%. The combustion of low-quality fuel, crude oil wells, and flared natural gas also increase air pollution in urban areas. The country's reliance on thermal power for electricity and the use of diesel generators and coal-based industrial emissions further exacerbate the problem. India's growing population and urbanization also play a role in its high pollution levels. Congested roads and traffic congestion in cities reduce average vehicular speed, resulting in higher vehicle emissions. The burning of biomass, wood, and dung for cooking and heating, particularly in rural areas, is another significant source of pollution.
Unregulated emissions, such as benzene and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are also a concern in India. Adulterated fuel blends, commonly used in Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws, increase emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles, worsening urban air quality. Financial incentives, such as differential taxes, encourage fuel adulteration as individuals seek to cut costs. Additionally, construction dust and debris, waste burning, and industrial sources contribute to particulate air pollution.
To address these issues, India has implemented various initiatives. In 2019, the country launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024. The government has also strengthened vehicular and industrial emission standards. The World Bank and IIASA have studied that focusing on air pollution through a clean air pathway could bring significant climate change benefits, reducing CO2 emissions by 23% by 2030 and 42% by 2040-2050. India is also working to improve air quality data accessibility and has launched research facilities to study air pollution in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, as of 2024.
The main causes of pollution in India are industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the burning of crop residue.
The high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air in India shorten the average life expectancy by 5.3 years. The impact is even worse in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, where air pollution reduces life expectancy by 11.9 years.
India has launched several initiatives to combat pollution, including the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate pollution by 40% in 131 cities by 2025-26. Other initiatives include the Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometre-long ecological corridor, and the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility, which studies air pollution in the country.
India is one of the most polluted countries in South Asia, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. In 2023, India was ranked as the third most polluted country in the world, after Bangladesh and Pakistan.
