July 19, 2025 12:07 pm

Air Quality Report 2025: Where India Is Winning the Pollution Fight — and Where It’s Not

CURRENT AFFAIRS: Air Quality Report India 2025, PM2.5 Pollution India, National Clean Air Programme NCAP, Varanasi Air Pollution Drop, Byrnihat Assam Pollution 2025, NCAP Revised Targets, Clean Fuel Urban Policy

Air Quality Report 2025: Where India Is Winning the Pollution Fight — and Where It’s Not

PM2.5 Pollution: What’s at Stake for India’s Cities

Air Quality Report 2025: Where India Is Winning the Pollution Fight — and Where It’s Not: Air pollution in India isn’t just about hazy skylines — it’s a major public health emergency. The 2025 Air Quality Report by Respirer Living Sciences shows that while average PM2.5 levels fell 27% nationally between 2019 and 2024, many cities still exceed safe limits. PM2.5 particles are extremely small and can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to asthma, heart disease, and premature death. The WHO recommends a PM2.5 level below 5 µg/m³, but some Indian cities are far above this mark.

Who’s Breathing Better: India’s Top Clean-Air Cities

Some cities have shown what success looks like. Varanasi reduced PM2.5 levels by 76%, an outstanding achievement. Other clean-air champions include:

  • Moradabad – 58% reduction
  • Kalaburagi – 57.2%
  • Meerut – 57.1%

These gains came from localized action: electrified transport, street dust control, banning open waste burning, and regular air quality monitoring. Varanasi’s transformation proves that targeted efforts can bring dramatic improvements.

Pollution Hotspots: The Cities Still in Crisis

Despite the good news, some cities remain deeply polluted:

  • Byrnihat (Assam) – 127.3 µg/m³ (India’s highest)
  • Delhi – 107 µg/m³
  • Gurugram – 96.7 µg/m³
  • Faridabad – 87.1 µg/m³

These figures are 20 times higher than WHO limits. In Delhi, seasonal stubble burning, traffic congestion, and construction dust continue to choke the air. In Byrnihat, industrial pollution and weak regulations make improvement difficult.

NCAP: India’s Main Strategy to Clean the Air

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, initially aimed to reduce PM pollution by 20–30% by 2024 (using 2017 as the base year). In 2023, this target was revised to a 40% reduction by 2026. The NCAP pushes for:

  • Cleaner fuels and fuel transition policies
  • Urban planning and green public transport
  • Expanded air monitoring networks
  • Industrial pollution control and enforcement

While it provides a framework, its implementation has varied, which explains the regional disparities in air quality progress.

STATIC GK SNAPSHOT FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Topic Fact
PM2.5 Definition Particulate Matter < 2.5 micrometers; causes respiratory illness
WHO Safe PM2.5 Limit 5 µg/m³ annually
NCAP Launch Year 2019
Original NCAP Target 20–30% PM2.5 reduction by 2024
Revised NCAP Target 40% PM2.5 reduction by 2026
Top Performing City Varanasi – 76% PM2.5 reduction (2019–24)
Worst PM2.5 City in 2024 Byrnihat (Assam) – 127.3 µg/m³
Cities Showing Major Improvements Kalaburagi, Moradabad, Meerut
Reasons for Air Quality Drop Cleaner fuels, transport reforms, bans on open waste burning
Key Causes of Pollution Vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, crop burning, construction dust
Air Quality Report 2025: Where India Is Winning the Pollution Fight — and Where It’s Not
  1. Air pollution remains a major concern in India, especially in urban areas, affecting public health and the environment.
  2. The 5 pollution trend from 2019 to 2024 shows a 27% reduction in average PM2.5 levels across Indian cities.
  3. Varanasi achieved a remarkable 76% reduction in PM2.5 levels, the highest among Indian cities.
  4. Moradabad saw a 58% reduction, and Kalaburagi and Meerut recorded reductions of 2% and 57.1%, respectively.
  5. Byrnihat (Assam) remains the most polluted city with a 5 level of 127.3 µg/m³, far above the WHO safe limit of 5 µg/m³.
  6. Delhi continues to struggle with 107 µg/m³, followed by Gurugram (7 µg/m³) and Faridabad (87.1 µg/m³).
  7. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aimed for a 20–30% PM2.5 reduction by 2024.
  8. The revised NCAP target is now a 40% reduction by 2026.
  9. Key measures under NCAP include promoting clean fuels, air quality monitoring, and enforcing industrial emission norms.
  10. Cities like Varanasi benefited from electrification of public transport and strict bans on open burning.
  11. Stubble burning from neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana continues to affect air quality, especially in Delhi.
  12. Weak industrial regulations and rapid vehicle growth in cities like Gurugram contribute to pollution.
  13. NCAP’s uneven implementation across states has affected its overall success.
  14. Moradabad’s 58% reduction in PM2.5 has improved health outcomes for children and the elderly.
  15. The WHO safe limit for PM2.5 is 5 µg/m³ annually, highlighting the disparity between India’s air quality and global standards.
  16. India’s average PM2.5 drop from 2019 to 2024 was 27%, signaling progress but also the need for continued effort.
  17. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities suffer from inadequate air quality monitoring and weak enforcement of regulations.
  18. Recommendations include expanding real-time monitoring in smaller towns and promoting public awareness on pollution impacts.
  19. Improved air quality is linked to fewer health issues, better productivity, and enhanced quality of life.
  20. Clean air should be treated as a fundamental right for all citizens, ensuring healthier, livable cities for everyone.

Q1. What is the primary aim of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?


Q2. What was the average reduction in PM2.5 levels across Indian cities between 2019 and 2024?


Q3. Which city recorded the highest reduction in PM2.5 levels in 2024?


Q4. What was the PM2.5 level in Byrnihat, Assam, in 2024?


Q5. What is the recommended annual PM2.5 level according to the WHO?


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