Nearly 44 percent of Indian cities are grappling with chronic air pollution, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released on January 9, 2026. The report highlights that this widespread, year-round pollution stems from persistent structural emission sources—such as vehicular exhaust, industrial activity, construction dust, biomass burning, and coal-based power generation—rather than isolated seasonal events. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustained, long-term interventions beyond temporary measures.

The CREA assessment of PM2.5 concentrations for 2025 identifies Byrnihat in Assam as India's most polluted city, with an annual average of 100 μg/m³, followed closely by Delhi at 96 μg/m³ and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh at 93 μg/m³. These levels far exceed the World Health Organization's annual guideline of 5 μg/m³ and India's own National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 40 μg/m³, placing millions of residents at heightened risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and other pollution-related health problems.

Alarmingly, the report reveals that only 4 percent of Indian cities currently fall under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a flagship government initiative launched in 2019 to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20–30 percent by 2024 (later extended to 40 percent by 2026). CREA notes that the limited coverage of NCAP leaves a significant portion of chronically polluted urban areas without dedicated, time-bound action plans, funding, or monitoring mechanisms.

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The analysis points to systemic challenges in addressing air quality. Persistent sources like unregulated industrial emissions, rapid urbanization, inadequate public transport, and agricultural residue burning continue to drive pollution, particularly in northern and eastern India. Cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram, remain among the worst-affected, with winter smog episodes exacerbating already high baseline levels.

Experts from CREA have called for an expansion of the NCAP framework to include more cities, stricter enforcement of emission norms, an accelerated transition to cleaner energy sources, and greater investment in public transport and green infrastructure. The report also stresses the importance of real-time monitoring, public awareness, and cross-sectoral coordination between central, state, and local authorities to tackle the structural nature of the crisis.

As India continues to urbanize rapidly, the CREA findings serve as a stark reminder that air pollution remains one of the country's most pressing public health and environmental challenges, demanding immediate and comprehensive action to protect vulnerable populations and improve overall quality of life.

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