Shocking April 2025 Report: Most Indian Cities Surpass WHO Air Quality Standards – A Nationwide Crisis Unfolds

Pollution Insights in India: April 2025 Air Quality Update

In April 2025, India’s air quality presented a mixed picture. The latest report from the Centre of Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed that while many cities met the country’s pollution standards, only a handful came close to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Out of 248 cities monitored, 227 fell within India’s permissible PM2.5 levels of 60 µg/m³, but only seven made it under WHO’s strict limit of 15 µg/m³.

This gap highlights a significant issue: India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which were last updated in 2009, may no longer safeguard public health effectively.

Byrnihat’s Pollution Crisis

Byrnihat, a small industrial town in Assam, recorded the highest pollution levels in April, averaging a staggering 119 µg/m³ of PM2.5—double the national standard and nearly eight times the WHO’s guideline. The air quality was rated as ‘Very Poor’ for 13 days, which poses serious health risks.

Remarkably, Byrnihat is not included in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), designed to tackle pollution in 132 identified cities. "Byrnihat’s exclusion from the NCAP shows how fragmented our pollution control efforts are," noted an environmental policy expert.

Delhi: A Persistent Problem

Delhi continues to struggle with air quality, ranking fifth with a PM2.5 average of 77 µg/m³. The city experienced 16 days of ‘Moderate’ and 9 days of ‘Poor’ air quality. Although there’s slight improvement compared to last year, it remains far from clean. Neighboring cities like Ghaziabad and Gurgaon also appeared on the list of the top ten polluted cities, showcasing ongoing air quality challenges.

Bihar: A Growing Concern

Bihar reported five cities among the ten most polluted, including Siwan and Rajgir. Even though these cities often fall into the ‘Moderate’ category, they frequently breach both Indian and WHO air quality norms. This trend indicates that pollution is now affecting smaller towns that lack proper environmental regulations and health infrastructure.

Southern Cities Shine

On a more positive note, Gadag in Karnataka emerged as the cleanest city in April, boasting a PM2.5 average of just 6 µg/m³. Other clean cities mainly came from the south, further indicating regional disparities in air quality across the country.

Expert Opinions

Selomi Garnaik from Greenpeace India emphasized that air pollution is a national emergency—not limited to northern cities. "The overlap with extreme heat creates a dangerous mix for health. We must align our air quality standards with WHO guidelines to protect our communities," she stated.

Manu Singh, an environmentalist, echoed these concerns, calling for urgent updates to India’s outdated pollution standards. "With over 90% of cities exceeding WHO’s limits, it’s clear that current regulations are insufficient," he remarked.

A crucial takeaway from the April report is the concept of “overshoot days,” which refers to the time of year when pollution levels exceed safety guidelines, rendering compliance impossible even if emissions were reduced to zero for the rest of the year. By April, 248 of 273 monitored cities had already exceeded WHO’s annual PM2.5 limits.

The Need for Action

The report signals that pollution is spreading beyond traditional hotspots like Delhi and Kanpur. Many high-pollution cities are still not part of the NCAP, leaving them without focused intervention plans. Experts warn that without localized initiatives and a comprehensive overhaul of pollution control strategies, air quality inequality could worsen across regions.

As we approach a critical juncture, it’s clear that clean air is not merely a privilege—it’s a fundamental right that demands immediate attention and action.

For further insights on pollution metrics and public health, check out relevant research reports from sources like WHO or the Central Pollution Control Board.

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