Top 10 Indian cities with the worst and best AQI in 2025: New Delhi’s AQI remains ‘very poor’

Highlighting ongoing pollution challenges in India, its cities in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are witnessing record-alarming high AQI levels, with a strong likelihood that air quality will slip to “severe” levels by Tuesday in New Delhi.

On Monday, November 3, a dense haze shrouded Delhi, the national capital, as the air quality persisted in the “very poor” range, as recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 309.

Delhi was ranked 14, just behind Noida, Fatehabad, and Ballabgarh, which have an AQI of 312, 313, and 320, respectively. (Express File Photo)

However, the regions in North India with the worst air quality were Kaithal in Haryana and Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, falling in the “Very Poor” category. They recorded AQI levels of 393 and 384, respectively.

The south Indian port city of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu topped the chart with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) at 486, placing it in the “Severe” category.

In contrast, southern (except for Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu) and northeastern cities such as Shillong, Madurai, and Nashik reported exceptionally clean air, with AQI values below 35, demonstrating a stark regional disparity in India’s air quality.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data for cities across India as of November 3, at 4 pm, reflecting the average air quality over the past 24 hours.

Source: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Please note: PM2.5, being finer, penetrates deeper into the lungs and bloodstream, posing higher health risks, while PM10 is larger and stays in the upper respiratory tract. Lower PM2.5 levels are prioritised for better air quality.

Health statements for AQI categories according to CPCB:

The health statements for AQI categories (category, ranges and their associated health risk) by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

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