BREAKING NEWS: 60% of India’s Districts Record PM2.5 Levels Above Safety Norms, Delhi Worst Hit
A new report on India’s air quality has exposed an alarming rise in pollution levels across the country. The study reveals that 60% of India’s 749 districts have PM2.5 concentrations higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The findings come at a time when several cities, including the national capital, are already battling severe smog as winter progresses.
Images from New Delhi on Wednesday showed people jogging at Kartavya Path amid thick haze as the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped into the ‘severe’ category, reflecting the dangerous concentration of pollutants in the air.
Study Findings: Pollution Breaches Across India
The report, titled “Beyond city limits: A satellite-based PM2.5 assessment across India’s airsheds, states, and districts,” was prepared by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The authors — Manoj Kumar, Monish Raj, Panda Rushwood, and Rosa Gierens — used satellite technology to measure pollution levels across India throughout the year.
According to NAAQS guidelines, the acceptable limit for PM2.5 is 40 µg/m³. The study found that this limit was breached in more than 60% of all Indian districts, marking a nationwide environmental alert.
Even more concerning, all 33 Indian states and union territories recorded PM2.5 levels higher than the WHO’s safe limit of 5 µg/m³. Out of these, 28 states and UTs exceeded the much higher NAAQS limit as well, indicating widespread and persistent air pollution that is no longer limited to metropolitan cities.
States With the Worst Pollution Levels
The study identified several regions with extremely high PM2.5 concentrations. Delhi, Tripura, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Chandigarh surpassed NAAQS limits in all seasons except monsoon, showing constant exposure to harmful particulate matter.
Delhi remains the most polluted state in India, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 101 µg/m³ — more than 20 times the WHO limit and over two times the Indian safety threshold.
Other states showing severe pollution include:
- Assam: increasing PM2.5 levels in multiple districts
- Haryana: persistent winter smog and stubble burning influence
- Bihar: high levels tied to industrial and vehicular emissions
The report also highlighted that the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) remain the most polluted region in the country due to dense population, industry, and winter meteorology. However, the sharp rise in PM2.5 concentrations in Northeastern states like Tripura and Assam suggests that pollution is spreading beyond its usual hotspots.
Delhi’s Winter Struggle Intensifies
Delhi’s air quality has been particularly poor this winter, with multiple days in the ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ categories. Thick haze, falling temperatures, low wind movement, and winter inversion have trapped pollutants close to the ground.
The situation worsened when the city recorded the lowest November temperature since 2022, creating ideal conditions for smog formation.
But a new factor has added fresh concern.
Volcanic Smoke From Ethiopia Reaches India
A rare volcanic eruption in northern Ethiopia — the first from the Hayli Gubbi volcano in thousands of years — has released a massive plume of ash, sulphur dioxide, and fine particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Satellite models show that part of this plume has travelled across Asia and reached northern India, including Delhi. Experts say the particles are suspended at higher altitudes, but their presence may still influence pollution levels.
IMD Director General M Mohapatra told Hindustan Times that while the volcanic smoke has been detected over Delhi’s airspace, “any significant impact is unlikely as it is at higher levels.”
However, he added that further monitoring is needed because the city is already recording excessive PM levels.
Environmental scientists warn that even a small deposition of volcanic particulate matter could temporarily worsen local air conditions, especially when pollution is already severe.
Why India’s Rising Pollution Matters
India’s PM2.5 crisis carries major implications:
1. Public Health Emergency
High PM2.5 exposure is linked to asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and early mortality. WHO estimates that India already records over 1.6 million air-pollution-related deaths annually.
2. Economic Burden
Poor air quality reduces workforce productivity, increases healthcare costs, and impacts tourism, especially in major cities like Delhi.
3. Environmental Impact
Persistent PM2.5 pollution harms soil fertility, damages crops, and disrupts ecosystems across states.
4. Policy Challenge
The report shows that even rural and remote districts now face air quality breaches, indicating that India needs stronger, nationwide clean-air measures — not only city-focused interventions like smog towers and emergency restrictions.
Experts Call for Immediate Action
Air quality experts argue that India can no longer treat pollution as a seasonal issue. They stress the need for:
- Cleaner industrial processes
- Rural-focused pollution control systems
- Stronger enforcement of emission laws
- Improved agricultural waste management
- Long-term regional clean-air planning
Analysts also warn that climate change — rising heat, changing wind patterns — may increase the frequency of severe pollution events.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
India’s latest air quality report is a clear warning that pollution is no longer limited to major cities — it has spread across districts, states, and regions. With 60% of districts crossing PM2.5 safety limits, the health risk is widespread and long-term. Delhi, which is already struggling with severe winter smog, now faces added stress from a rare volcanic plume that has travelled thousands of kilometres. As India continues to grow industrially and economically, protecting clean air must remain a national priority. Strong, year-round planning and strict implementation are essential to safeguard public health and the environment.