Gurugram India's most polluted city in March 2026; 4 Haryana cities in top 10: CREA report
In March, Gurugram recorded a monthly average PM2.5 level of 116 µg/m³, securing the top spot on the national pollution index
Gurugram has emerged as the most polluted city in India for March 2026, according to the latest report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The report highlights a worrying trend for the state of Haryana, which accounted for four of the ten most polluted cities in the country during this period.
Gurugram, Haryana lead pollution charts
In March, Gurugram recorded a monthly average PM2.5 level of 116 µg/m³, securing the top spot on the national pollution index. The data reveals that Haryana's air quality crisis is widespread, with nine out of its 24 monitored cities exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
The top 10 most polluted cities for March 2026 include:
- Gurugram (Haryana)
- Bahadurgarh (Haryana)
- Faridabad (Haryana)
- Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh)
- Mandideep (Madhya Pradesh)
- Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
- Manesar (Haryana)
- Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)
- Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
- Nandesari (Gujarat)
While Gurugram topped the March charts, the report noted that Ghaziabad remained the most polluted city overall for the entire 2025-26 financial year.
The 2026 figures follow a year of persistent air quality struggles for the region. In 2025, both Gurugram and Faridabad consistently ranked among the most polluted urban centers in India. Earlier data from the first half of 2024 and through 2025 showed Faridabad frequently overtaking Gurugram in PM2.5 concentrations, often ranking as the 2nd most polluted city in India. While Faridabad often led in PM2.5, Gurugram was frequently flagged for having the highest PM10 concentrations in the state, driven largely by construction activities and road dust.
The transition into 2026 shows Gurugram’s PM2.5 levels spiking significantly, reclaiming its position at the top of the list.
The CREA analysis also evaluated the performance of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) seven years after its implementation. The findings suggest a mixed bag of results. Dehradun reported the largest reduction in PM10 levels (75%) compared to the 2017-18 baseline. Delhi saw a modest 17% reduction.
Visakhapatnam recorded the highest increase in pollution levels at 73%. States like Odisha and Madhya Pradesh also saw several cities reporting an increase in PM10 levels. Nine cities in UP recorded reductions of over 40% in PM10 levels, showing significant improvement compared to the baseline year.
Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, emphasized the need for a shift in strategy as the NCAP moves into its next phase. "Many cities are still far from meeting the revised NCAP targets, and some have even seen rising pollution levels, which is a serious concern," Kumar stated. He called for "robust, science-based solutions" and stricter emission standards to address emerging hotspots.
As Gurugram and Faridabad continue to battle toxic air, experts suggest that an "air shed approach"—managing pollution across regional boundaries rather than city by city—is essential to achieving long-term clean air goals.
