The cities listed below represent the top 10 most polluted urban centers in the country, highlighting the regions that require urgent interventions to combat deteriorating air quality.
Pollution is a significant environmental issue in many parts of the country. Delhi experienced a significant drop in temperature on Thursday, as cold wave conditions and inclement weather enveloped the city. As per the data of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded 6.4 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Thursday. The MeT Department has predicted the minimum temperature for the day is 5 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 21 degrees Celsius. Have you ever wondered which cities have the highest air pollution?
A report by climate tech firm Respirer Living Sciences highlights significant progress in reducing air pollution across Indian cities between 2019 and 2024, particularly through the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The report indicates that various measures taken under this initiative have contributed to improving air quality in several urban areas, although challenges still remain.
India’s most polluted city is not Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Patna, Gurugram, the name will surprise you
As per the Respirer Living Sciences report, ‘Towards Clear Skies 2025 An In-Depth Analysis of Air Quality Improvements in Indian Cities (2019-2024),‘ in 2024, air pollution remained a pressing challenge in several Indian cities, with PM2.5 levels indicating hazardous conditions in various regions.
The cities listed below represent the top 10 most polluted urban centers in the country, highlighting the regions that require urgent interventions to combat deteriorating air quality. These cities, spanning northern, central, and eastern India, are predominantly affected by a combination of industrial activity, vehicular emissions, and poor regulatory enforcement.
In 2024, Delhi recorded PM2.5 levels of 107 microgrammes per cubic metre while Byrnihat in Assam reported 127.3 microgrammes per cubic metre. Other highly polluted cities include Gurugram (96.7 microgrammes per cubic metre), Faridabad (87.1 microgrammes per cubic metre), Sri Ganganagar (85.5 microgrammes per cubic metre), and Greater Noida (83.9 microgrammes per cubic metre).
The list of the most polluted cities also includes Muzaffarnagar (83.2 microgrammes per cubic metre), Durgapur (82.0 microgrammes per cubic metre), Asansol (80.3 microgrammes per cubic metre), and Ghaziabad (79.9 microgrammes per cubic metre).
Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in 2024
PM2.5 (µg/m³) in 2024
- Rank 1: Byrnihat, Assam (127.3)
- Rank 2: Delhi, Delhi (107.0)
- Rank 3: Gurugram, Haryana (96.7)
- Rank 4: Faridabad, Haryana (87.1)
- Rank 5: Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan (85.5)
- Rank 6: Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh (83.9)
- Rank 7: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh (83.2)
- Rank 8: Durgapur, West Bengal (82.0)
- Rank 9: Asansol, West Bengal (80.3)
- Rank 10: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (79.9)
This ranking serves as a crucial indicator for policymakers and environmentalists to focus their efforts on these cities. ‘Targeted interventions, such as controlling industrial emissions, improving public transport, and strengthening air quality monitoring, are vital to bring these cities into compliance with national air quality standards,; reads the report.
