India Faces Severe Air Pollution Crisis

Air pollution is emerging as a serious threat across India, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to breathe clean air. The situation is particularly alarming in urban areas, with the national capital Delhi and hundreds of other cities trapped in severe pollution levels. A recent study has revealed that nearly 44 percent of Indian cities are facing long-term air pollution, highlighting a structural problem caused by continuous emissions.

According to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), satellite data analysis of PM2.5 levels across 4,041 cities shows that 1,787 cities exceeded the national annual PM2.5 standard in almost every year between 2014 and 2024, excluding the Covid-affected year 2020. The study further notes that only 4 percent of these cities fall under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Based on 2025 PM2.5 projections, Byrnihat in Assam, Delhi, and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh rank among the most polluted cities in the country. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, and West Bengal have the highest number of cities failing to meet national air quality standards.