60% of Districts Exceed Safe Limits; Delhi Worst-Affected, Says CREA Report
New Delhi: A new satellite-based assessment has revealed alarming levels of PM2.5 pollution across India, with 60% of the country’s districts exceeding national air quality standards. The study, conducted by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), highlights the growing severity of air pollution and identifies key hotspots that remain polluted throughout the year.
According to the report, Delhi continues to top the list as the most polluted region in the country, with PM2.5 concentrations far above permissible limits. The Indo-Gangetic Plain, which includes major states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana, has emerged as a major year-round pollution hotspot due to industrial activity, crop burning, and urban emissions.
Surprisingly, several regions in the Northeast, often considered relatively cleaner, have also shown high levels of PM2.5 pollution, indicating rising environmental stress across the region.
Experts warn that long-term exposure to PM2.5 — fine particulate matter that penetrates deep into the lungs — poses serious health risks, including respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and reduced life expectancy.
The report urges authorities to strengthen air quality monitoring, enforce emission control measures, and invest in clean energy transitions to reduce the country’s growing pollution burden.
