The situation of air pollution in many cities across the country is becoming increasingly serious day by day, with many parts of northern India, including the capital Delhi, literally engulfed in smoke. It is clear that this problem is not just seasonal, but has arisen due to long-term and structural reasons. Experts say that continuous industrial emissions, smoke particles from transportation, construction dust, and pollution from energy production are the main causes.
A recent analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has revealed a concerning reality. The report states that seven out of the top 10 most polluted cities in the country are in the Delhi-NCR region. Using satellite data, CREA assessed PM2.5 levels in 4,041 cities across the country. Among these, 1,787 cities recorded PM2.5 levels exceeding national standards annually during the five-year period from 2019 to 2024. The year 2020 was excluded from this study due to COVID-19.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter in the air, with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These particles are so small that they can directly enter the lungs through breathing. This increases the risk of asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, vascular diseases, and premature death, health experts warn.
Despite this serious situation, only 130 cities have been included in the central government's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which is even more concerning. According to CREA's report, out of 1,787 cities that have been polluted for a long time, only 67 cities fall under NCAP, meaning that measures to control pollution can be implemented in only 4 percent of the cities through this scheme.
Meanwhile, according to the 2025 PM2.5 projections, Birnihat in Assam, Delhi, and Ghaziabad have been identified as the most polluted cities in the country. The PM2.5 level in Birnihat is recorded at 100 micrograms per cubic meter, 96 micrograms in Delhi, and 93 micrograms per cubic meter in Ghaziabad. According to experts, measures limited to only a few cities are not sufficient to control air pollution. Without a comprehensive national-level policy, strict implementation, and rapid transition towards clean energy options, this problem is likely to become more severe.