NCR cities failed PM2.5 standards this year
Most cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) continued to breach India’s PM2.5 air quality limits in 2025, with Delhi recording the highest pollution levels among India’s megacities, according to an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) continuous monitoring data available until December 30.
Of the 29 NCR cities, only 14 had sufficient PM2.5 data coverage for 2025. All 14 cities exceeded the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m³, except Bharatpur and Alwar in Rajasthan.
Delhi emerged as the most polluted NCR city, followed by Ghaziabad and Noida. Ghaziabad also recorded the highest number of days exceeding the daily PM2.5 limit of 60 µg/m³.
Across India’s five megacities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru — Delhi continued to top annual PM2.5 levels in 2025. Delhi’s annual average stood at 96 µg/m³, more than double the national standard.
Within Delhi, all monitoring stations exceeded the annual PM2.5 standard. Jahangirpuri was the most polluted station with an annual average of 130 µg/m³, followed by Wazirpur and Bawana. At several stations, PM2.5 levels were at least 1.8 times the permissible annual limit. Jahangirpuri also saw pollution levels above the daily standard on 330 days in 2025.
Delhi did record a drop in its overall annual PM2.5 average compared with 2024. However, pollution during the peak season from October to December remained higher than last year. PM2.5 levels in April, August and December were higher in 2025 than in the previous year.
“Despite a decline in Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 levels, pollution during the most critical months (October to December) remained unchanged in 2025 compared with 2024,” said Manoj Kumar, India Analyst at Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Kumar said, “This shows that peak-season pollution persists even under stricter GRAP measures.” In Mumbai, annual PM2.5 levels remained similar to last year, with Deonar recording the highest concentration. Kandivali East saw the highest number of days exceeding daily limits.”
