Why Delhi is among world’s most polluted
Measures must be implemented across the Indo-Gangetic basin and Delhi's airshed area.
Updated At : 02:40 AM Dec 10, 2025 IST
Sandeep Joshi
DELHI is believed to be the most polluted city in India, but it ranks fourth, however it consistently remains one of the world’s most polluted capital cities. As per the Finnish think tank, CREA, the 10 most polluted Indian cities are Ghaziabad, Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Bagpat, Sonepat, Meerut and Rohtak. All of them lie along the Indo-Gangetic plain, in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — right at the heart of the specific airshed that the capital shares. When any part of this airshed emits pollutants, the entire region suffers. Air — clean or contaminated — circulates within this space.
