Air Quality Index (AQI) 2024: Top 10 Indian cities with best and worst air quality

Today, October 31st, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has classified Delhi’s air quality as “very poor,” recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 in the national capital at 6 a.m.

An AQI of 0–50 is regarded as acceptable, 51–100 as fair, 101–200 as moderate, 201–300 as bad, 301–400 as very poor, and 401 to 450 is considered serious. (NewsonAir)

Notably, air pollution is one of the foremost environmental threats to human health, responsible for approximately one in nine deaths and about seven million premature deaths worldwide every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports.

Furthermore, exposure to PM2.5 can cause various health problems, including asthma, cancer, stroke, and lung disease. It can also hinder cognitive development in children, contribute to mental health issues, and worsen existing conditions like diabetes.

Highlighting the same, the Lancet’s recent report revealed that approximately 11.5 per cent of annual deaths in Delhi, equating to around 12,000 fatalities, are due to air pollution.

India ranks as the third-most polluted country globally in 2023, with the annual average PM2.5 concentrations in the country increasing to 54.4 µg/m3, up from 53.3 µg/m3 in 2022, as per the World Air Quality Report.

World Air Quality Report 2023-24: India’s outlook

Additionally, approximately 1.3 billion, or 96% of its population are exposed to PM2.5 levels, seven times more than WHO’s guidelines, the report stated.

With India currently grappling with significant air pollution, we have listed the top 10 most polluted cities in India, along with their Air Quality Index (AQI) readings as of 2024, in addition to cities that are making progress toward cleaner air and have the best AQIs in 2024.

Top 10 Indian cities with the worst AQI, as of October 2024

Northern India, particularly Delhi, faces severe air quality challenges due to a combination of factors including smoke from crop burning, vehicle emissions, coal combustion, waste incineration, and biomass burning for heating and cooking.

Delhi pollution levels registered a steep climb. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)

The annual practice of crop burning in states like Punjab and Haryana during October and November significantly deteriorates air quality, often pushing it to emergency levels during the post-harvest season.

As of October 2024, here are the top 10 Indian cities with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) as ranked by India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):

Source: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Note: The Air Quality Index (AQI) reflects an average of the past 24 hours, as of October 21, 2024, at 4 PM.

Top 10 Indian cities with the best AQI, as of October 2024