Delhi Again India’s Most Polluted City as 60% of Districts Breach PM2.5 Norms
60% of districts breach national pollution norms.
Delhi has retained its grim title as India’s most polluted city for PM2.5, recording an annual average concentration of 101 micrograms per cubic metre between March 2024 and February 2025 — more than 2.5 times the national standard of 40 µg/m³ and a staggering 20 times the World Health Organization’s guideline of 5 µg/m³, according to a new satellite-based analysis released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
The national capital was followed by Chandigarh at 70 µg/m³, Haryana at 63 µg/m³, and Tripura at 62 µg/m³. Ten states recorded statewide averages above the national limit, including Assam (60), Bihar (59), West Bengal (57), Punjab (56), Meghalaya (53), and Nagaland (52), underlining that toxic air is no longer confined to the traditional Indo-Gangetic plain but has spread to northeastern and northern regions.
Of the 749 districts studied across India, 447 districts — approximately 60 per cent of the total — exceeded the annual PM2.5 standard of 40 µg/m³. The pollution burden remains heavily concentrated: Delhi and Assam each contributed badminton 11 districts to the list of the 50 most polluted, followed by Bihar and Haryana with seven each, and Uttar Pradesh with four, highlighting persistent hotspots that continue to worsen public health outcomes.
Also Read: Congress to Hold December 14 Mega Rally Solo Against Alleged EC Vote Manipulation
In several states and union territories, every single monitored district breached the national norm, including Delhi, Assam, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Jammu & Kashmir. Near-total non-compliance was observed in Bihar (37 out of 38 districts), West Bengal (22 out of 23), Gujarat (32 out of 33), Rajasthan (30 out of 33), and Jharkhand (21 out of 24), demonstrating the systemic failure to meet even India’s relatively lenient air-quality standards.
The CREA report, which relied on satellite-derived data validated against ground monitors, excluded Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep owing to insufficient monitoring infrastructure. Experts warn that without aggressive, region-specific interventions, the number of districts trapped in hazardous air is likely to rise further, exacerbating respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and premature mortality across large swathes of the country.
Also Read: Ariana Afghan Flight Lands on Wrong Runway at Delhi Airport, Triggering Major Safety Scare
