13 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India, says report

Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya topping the list, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 published on Tuesday.

Punjab’s Mullanpur, Delhi, New Delhi, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida are the other Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities.

The Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, which published the report, said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India is the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023.

Elaborating on the challenges which India faces, the report said, “India faces significant air quality challenges, with major pollution sources, including vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, construction dust and the burning of crop residue. In urban hubs like Delhi, vehicular emissions are a leading contributor to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), exacerbated by traffic congestion and fuel adulteration.”

It also cited stubble burning as one of the issues for deteriorating air quality in the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Meghalaya’s Byrnihat tops list

The 13 cities are Meghalaya’s Byrnihat, Punjab’s Mullanpur, Delhi, New Delhi, Haryana’s Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram (Haryana), Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida, as per Swiss firm IQAir

Air quality deteriorated sharply in Manipur in October, while November saw extreme pollution levels in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh with crop stubble burning remaining a major contributor to PM2.5 levels, accounting for 60 per cent of pollution during peak periods, according to the report.

“Seasonal agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residue in states like Punjab and Haryana, further deteriorate air quality during winter months. Industrial emissions and construction activities also contribute significantly to pollution levels. Despite governmental measures, such as the National Clean Air Programme aiming to reduce pollution levels, challenges persist due to inconsistent policy implementation and inadequate infrastructure,” the report said.

India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentration in 2024 compared to 2023. New Delhi maintained consistently high pollution levels, with an annual average of 91.6 µg/m³, nearly unchanged from 92.7 µg/m³ in 2023, the report said.

“Air pollution remains a significant health burden in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. Severe pollution episodes persisted in 2024, particularly in northern states. January air quality was especially poor in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Baddi in Himachal saw a January monthly PM2.5 average of 165 µg/m³,” the report said.

It said the Indo-Gangetic Plain remains a pollution hotspot, where meteorological factors trap pollutants and exacerbate winter smog.

“Cities like Delhi and Lahore frequently experience hazardous conditions with seasonal spikes in pollution leading to emergency measures such as school closures and public space shutdowns,” the report said.