Air pollution: India - Revision history

Jyoti: /* Air pollution levels, 2019>2024 */

2025-12-20T09:30:41Z

‎Air pollution levels, 2019>2024

Jyoti: /* Air pollution levels, 2019>2024 */

2025-12-20T09:14:29Z

‎Air pollution levels, 2019>2024

Jyoti: /* Mumbai */

2025-11-28T05:50:44Z

‎Mumbai

Jyoti: /* The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air */

2025-10-22T10:38:35Z

‎The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air

Jyoti: /* 2023: India world’s 3rd worst, Delhi worst affected capital */

2025-10-15T16:07:08Z

‎2023: India world’s 3rd worst, Delhi worst affected capital

Jyoti: /* Acidic rainfall (not quite 'Acid Rain') */

2025-04-22T17:52:47Z

‎Acidic rainfall (not quite 'Acid Rain')

Pdewan: /* Acid rain */

2025-04-12T11:13:35Z

‎Acid rain

Jyoti: /* 2016-18 */

2024-12-26T20:49:56Z

‎2016-18

Jyoti: /* Air pollution levels, 2019>2024 */

2024-12-19T07:19:31Z

‎Air pollution levels, 2019>2024

Jyoti: /* 2022, Dec */

2024-12-19T07:18:42Z

‎2022, Dec

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 AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
 [[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
 AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:14, 20 December 2025
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	'' Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 ''		'' Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 ''
		+
		+	===2015-2025===
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=29_11_2025_022_009_cap_TOI Mahiyar.Patel, Nov 29, 2025: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: The most and least polluted major cities of India, 2015-2025.jpg\| The most and least polluted major cities of India, 2015-2025 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=29_11_2025_022_009_cap_TOI Mahiyar.Patel, Nov 29, 2025: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	Mumbai: A 10-year assessment of air pollution across major urban centres has found that none of the country’s top cities met safe AQI levels at any point between 2015 and Nov 2025.
		+
		+	The report, prepared by Climate Trends, an environmental research firm, analysed long-term pollution patterns across 11 major cities. Delhi remained India’s most polluted city throughout the period of study, with average AQI levels peaking above 250 in 2016 and hovering around 180 this year.
		+
		+	Cities such as Lucknow, Varanasi and Ahmedabad, which recorded high average AQI values — often above 200— in the first half of the decade, showed some improvement in the second half. While southern and western cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Pune and Bengaluru recorded relatively moderate AQI levels, even they did not meet safe thresholds. Bengaluru posted the lowest AQI readings, between 65 and 90.
		+
		+	Geography plays a significant role in prolonging episodes. “With cold northwesterly winds sweeping into the plains, minimum temperatures are set to drop further — making it harder for pollutants to disperse,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president at Skymet Weather.
		+
		+	He added that this year’s weak western disturbances — extratropical storms that bring winter rain and snow to northwestern India — were inadequate. “Without rain to wash pollutants out of the atmosphere, it lingers for longer periods, leading to early and persistent smog-like conditions,” said Palawat.
		+
		+	During cold winters of the Indo-Gangetic plains, the phenomenon of “temperature inversion”, which limits vertical air movement, effectively traps pollution in lower layers of the atmosphere. Dense city structures and tall buildings further slow wind speeds.
		+
		+	Experts stressed the need for better planning and datadriven interventions. “Technology can help address many local pollution sources within your own airshed, but this requires reliable data,” said Prof S N Tripathi of IIT-Kanpur. Palak Balyan, research lead at Climate Trends, added that relocating for cleaner air is neither feasible nor a real solution.

	[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA		[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:50, 28 November 2025
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	--Vinamrata Borwankar		--Vinamrata Borwankar
		+
		+	==Panaji vis-à-vis Delhi: 2024, 2025==
		+	[[File: Air pollution in Panaji vis-à-vis Delhi- 2024, 2025.jpg\|Air pollution in Panaji vis-à-vis Delhi: 2024, 2025 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=24_10_2025_019_002_cap_TOI Newton Sequeira, Oct 24, 2025: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	'' Air pollution in Panaji vis-à-vis Delhi: 2024, 2025 ''
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution\|AAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links\|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]

	==Varanasi, Allahabad, Gwalior/ 2015==		==Varanasi, Allahabad, Gwalior/ 2015==

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 =The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air=
 ==Sulphur dioxide==
 ===2016-18===
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 According to Dr Mark Chernaik, staff scientist at Environment Law Alliance Worlwide (ELAW), US, “These levels are extremely high and unheard of. Typically, barium levels are <0.05 µg/m3.” Based on limited human and animal data, the respiratory tract is the most sensitive target following inhalation exposure. According to studies, barium, typically as barium nitrate, imparts a yellow or apple green colour to fireworks. For brilliant green, barium monochloride is used.
 =Prosecution of offenders=

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 15 October 2025
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	“In many parts of the world, lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary suffering. Air quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves,” said Frank Hammes, global CEO, IQAir.		“In many parts of the world, lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary suffering. Air quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves,” said Frank Hammes, global CEO, IQAir.
		+
		+	==2025: Cities with the cleanest air==
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=10_09_2025_012_014_cap_TOI Vishwa Mohan, Sep 10, 2025: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: 2025- Indian cities with the cleanest air.jpg\|2025: Indian cities with the cleanest air <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=10_09_2025_012_014_cap_TOI Vishwa Mohan, Sep 10, 2025: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	New Delhi : Indore, the cleanest city in India, has also topped the list of million-plus population cities in ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan’ (clean air survey) 2025 for implementing air pollution mitigation measures under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), even as the city lags in terms of reducing PM10, a key pollutant, levels in 2024-25.
		+
		+	The survey has ranked cities on the basis of real action on ground to deal with different polluting activities. Since reduction in PM10 concentration level has low weightage in the overall score, Indore and some other cities figure at the top of the list despite reporting higher levels of the pollutant than others which are not among toppers in the annual survey.  The survey placed Navi Mumbai at 4th position, Kanpur at 5th, Bhopal at 6th, Allahabad at 7th, Chandigarh at 8th, Ahmedabad, Pune and Nagpur at 10th, Varanasi and Raipur at 11th, Lucknow at 15th, Hyderabad at 22nd, Mumbai at 25th, Jaipur at 26th, Delhi at 32nd, Bengaluru at 36th, Kolkata at 38th, and Chennai at 41st position in the list of million-plus population cities.
		+
		+	Ironically, Indore, which topped the list, has reported an increase in average annual concentration of PM10 in 2024-25 (83 µg/m3) compared to the 2017-18 level (82 µg/m3): a rise of 1.2%.
		+	In contrast, there are many million-plus population cities such as Chennai (58 µg/m3), Varanasi (59 µg/m3), Bengaluru (68 µg/m3) and Hyderabad (81 µg/m3) which had not only lower PM10 concentration than Indore in 2024-25 but also substantially lower level of the pollutant compared to 2017-18. The results of the survey, announced by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday, show Jabalpur, another city in MP, at the second position on the list of million-plus population cities, followed by Agra (UP) and Surat (Gujarat), which share the third spot.
		+
		+	In 2025, Amravati secured first rank in the 3-10 lakh population category, followed by Jhansi and Moradabad (joint second rank), and Alwar (third rank). In the third category of cities (population under 3 lakh), Dewas (MP) secured first rank, followed by Parwanoo (Himachal) and Angul (Odisha).  Yadav also revealed the progress made by cities, with PM10 levels going down in 103 out of the 130 cities under NCAP. He said 64 cities have shown a 20% reduction in PM10 levels in 2024-25 compared to 2017-18, and 25 cities have reached the 40% reduction mark. The records show that Mumbai registered the highest decline of 44% in PM10 level in 2024-25 compared to 2017-18. It was followed by Kolkata (37%), Hyderabad and Bengaluru (26% each), Delhi (15%), and Chennai (12%) among the six big metro cities.
		+
		+	Though a total of 22 out of the 130 cities have met the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by reporting annual average PM10 concentrations of less than 60 µg/ m3, Chennai is only big metro that met the acceptable limit, recording an annual average of 58 µg/m3. On the other hand, the PM10 levels in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru continue to be higher than the acceptable limit by reporting 203 µg/m3, 92 µg/m3, 90 µg/m3, 81 µg/m3 and 68 µg/m3, respectively.
		+
		+	Yadav also announced govt has targeted planting 75 crore plants during ‘Seva Parv’ across country under ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ campaign from Sept 17 to Oct 2.

	[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA		[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
-= Acidic rainfall (not quite 'Acid Rain')=
+=Acidic rainfall (not quite 'Acid Rain')=
 ==2001-2012: pH levels between 4.77- 5.32==
 [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Pollution-turning-countrys-rainfall-acidic-says-study-04032017001036  Neha Madaan, Pollution turning country's rainfall acidic, says study, March 4, 2017: The Times of India]
@@ Line 28: / Line 43: @@
 Acid rain can also dissolve salts of heavy metals found in rocks and soil. These heavy metals then find their way into agriculture fields, water sources and ultimately human physiologies. According to the study by scientists V Vizaya Bhaskar and P S P Rao, which was published in the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry , almost all global atmosphere watch (GAW) stations in India showed a decreasing trend in pH levels with each passing decade during the period of analysis (1981to 2012).
 [[Category:Climate/Meteorology|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 26 December 2024
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	Steady decline in the levels of PM10 in Delhi may be attributed to multiple actions such as leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standard, operationalisation of eastern and western peripheral expressways, implementing dust mitigation measures and closing down coal-based Badarpur thermal power plant, among others. Much more, however, needs to be done to substantially bring down the level of pollutants to the acceptable limit in the national capital and the other 101 cities identified under the NCAP.		Steady decline in the levels of PM10 in Delhi may be attributed to multiple actions such as leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standard, operationalisation of eastern and western peripheral expressways, implementing dust mitigation measures and closing down coal-based Badarpur thermal power plant, among others. Much more, however, needs to be done to substantially bring down the level of pollutants to the acceptable limit in the national capital and the other 101 cities identified under the NCAP.
		+
		+	==2023-24 vs 2017-18: 21 cities achieve target of 40% PM10 cut 2 years before deadline==
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=09_09_2024_001_001_cap_TOI Sep 9, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: 2023-24 vs 2017-18, PM10 reduction in 21 Indian cities.jpg\| 2023-24 vs 2017-18: PM10 reduction in 21 Indian cities <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=09_09_2024_001_001_cap_TOI Sep 9, 2024: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	[[File: City-wise performance in reducing critical air pollutant PM 10, 2017-24.jpg\|City-wise performance in reducing critical air pollutant PM 10, 2017-24 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=09_09_2024_012_010_cap_TOI Sep 9, 2024: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	'' City-wise performance in reducing critical air pollutant PM 10, 2017-24 ''
		+
		+
		+	New Delhi : Twenty-one cities — including Greater Mumbai, Varanasi, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Dehradun, Dhanbad, Trichy and Tuticorin — cut the concentration of critical air pollutant PM10 by more than 40% in 2023-24 compared to 2017-18 levels, says the latest compilation of data from 131 cities made by the environment ministry.
		+
		+	Though these 21 cities have met the target of National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) two years in advance, most — including Greater Mumbai, Varanasi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Dehradun —have still not met the acceptable limit (national standards) of keeping PM10 concentration within the annual average of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). For instance, Greater Mumbai reduced PM10 levels by nearly 42% (from 161 µg/m3 to 94) but it’s average PM10 level continues to be higher than the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), unlike Trichy, Tuticorin (both in TN) and Kadapa (Andhra).
		+
		+
		+	'''Details'''
		+
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=09_09_2024_012_001_cap_TOI Vishwa Mohan, Sep 9, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	New Delhi : High-polluting cities such as Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Nashik and Kota recorded improvement in terms of reducing PM10 to an extent, but their levels remain quite far from the acceptable limit, as per data released by Union environment ministry.  Delhi reduced the level of PM10 from 241 µg/m3 in 2017-18 to 208 µg/m3 in 2023-24 (nearly 14% decline) but the city continues to be highly polluting by recording pollutant levels by more than three times of the national standards.
		+
		+	Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019, the ministry planned to reduce PM10 levels by 40% by 2025-26 from the baseline year 2017-18. Overall, 95 out of 131 polluting cities have shown improvement by reducing levels of PM10 in varying percent- ages although just 18 have so far reached the acceptable limit of this critical pollutant. PM10 is small enough to enter the lungs through breathing causing serious health hazards. Data on improvement in air quality in these cities was shared by the ministry at a function to observe ‘Interna- tional Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’ in Jaipur on Sept 7, where Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav awarded nine cities in three different categories for better implementation of different actions for mitigating air pollution under NCAP.
		+
		+	Surat, Jabalpur and Agra were awarded for being top three cities in million-plus population category, whereas Firozabad, Amravati and Jhansi received the award in category of 3-10 lakh of population, and Raebareli, Nalgonda and Nalagarh in the category of less than three lakh of population. Except for Nalgonda in Telangana, none of these cities, however, figured in the list of 18 which met national standards for clean air. The cities were awarded under ‘Swachh Vayu Survekshan’ 2024 on the basis of different mitigation measures where the weightage of improving PM10 levels is merely 2.5% in this annual survey.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution\|AAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India\|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links\|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]

	=Region-wise=		=Region-wise=

@@ Line 205: / Line 205: @@
 ===Air pollution levels, 2019>2024===
-[[File: Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024.jpg|Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=01_12_2024_028_019_cap_TOI  Dec 1, 2024: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
+[[File: Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019-2024.jpg|Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=01_12_2024_028_019_cap_TOI  Dec 1, 2024: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
 '''See graphic''':

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:18, 19 December 2024
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	'' Air pollution in some of the worst affected Indian cities, as in December 2022 ''		'' Air pollution in some of the worst affected Indian cities, as in December 2022 ''
		+
		+	===Air pollution levels, 2019>2024===
		+	[[File: Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024.jpg\|Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 <br/> From: [https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=01_12_2024_028_019_cap_TOI Dec 1, 2024: ''The Times of India'']\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	'' Air pollution levels in Indian cities, 2019>2024 ''

	[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA		[[Category:Climate/Meteorology\|A AIR POLLUTION: INDIA