WORLD AIR QUALITY REPORT 2024
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New Delhi recorded an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³, making it the most polluted capital city. It was followed by N’Djamena in Chad (91.6 µg/m³) and Dhaka (78 µg/m³).
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Between 2018 and 2024, New Delhi consistently ranked as the most polluted capital, except in 2022 when N’Djamena briefly surpassed it.
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PM2.5, a fine particulate matter that remains suspended in the air, poses serious health risks. It is linked to respiratory ailments and increases the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an annual PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³, whereas India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set a significantly higher threshold of 40 µg/m³.
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The primary contributors to PM2.5 pollution include emissions from combustion engines, power plants, industrial processes, agricultural activities such as stubble burning, and the burning of wood and coal.
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A report by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir highlights that 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat recording the highest annual PM2.5 concentration at 128.2 µg/m³.
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Other highly polluted cities in India include Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, Gurgaon, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh, Noida, and various parts of Delhi, including Central Delhi.
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India ranks as the fifth most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 level of 50.6 µg/m³—ten times the WHO’s recommended limit. In 2023, it was the third most polluted nation.
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The findings are based on data from over 40,000 air quality monitoring stations spread across 8,954 locations in 138 countries, as analyzed by IQAir’s air quality experts.
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The 7th annual World Air Quality Report confirms that India is home to 13 of the 20 most polluted cities globally. Byrnihat, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, ranked as the most polluted city in the world. IQAir's analysis utilized data from 40,000 monitoring stations worldwide.
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The report specifically assessed PM2.5 concentrations—one of the smallest yet most hazardous air pollutants. These fine particles, mainly originating from fossil fuel combustion, can contribute to respiratory illnesses, chronic kidney disease, cancer, strokes, and heart attacks.
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Airborne particulate matter is a complex mixture of solid and liquid substances that vary in size, composition, and chemical nature. Regulatory frameworks classify particles based on their size, with PM10 (10 microns or smaller) being inhalable and capable of causing health issues, while PM2.5 (2.5 microns or smaller) is even more harmful.
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Only seven nations—Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand—met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline. Oceania emerged as the least polluted region, with 57% of its cities adhering to WHO standards. This region includes Australia, French Polynesia, and New Zealand.
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No city in East Asia, Southeast Asia, or West Asia complied with WHO air quality guidelines.
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Additional key insights from the report include:
- Only 17% of cities worldwide met WHO’s air pollution standards.
- Out of 138 countries and regions, 126 (91.3%) exceeded the WHO’s recommended annual PM2.5 limit of 5 µg/m³.
- The seven most polluted cities were located in Central and South Asia.
- Los Angeles was the most polluted major city in the United States.
- The five most polluted countries, according to the report, were Chad (91.8 µg/m³), Bangladesh (78 µg/m³), Pakistan (73.7 µg/m³), Congo (58.2 µg/m³), and India (50.6 µg/m³).
PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5) refers to fine airborne particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter—about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Due to their tiny size, they can easily penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing serious health risks.
Sources of PM2.5:
- Vehicle emissions (cars, trucks, buses)
- Industrial processes (factories, power plants)
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
- Agricultural activities (stubble burning, fertilizers)
- Construction and road dust
- Wood and biomass burning (household cooking, heating)
- Natural sources (wildfires, volcanic eruptions, dust storms)
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National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched in January 2019, NCAP is a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20-30% by 2024, compared to 2017 levels. It covers 102 non-attainment cities (cities that consistently exceed national air quality standards).
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Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR), GRAP is a set of emergency measures that are activated based on the severity of air pollution. It includes actions like banning diesel generators, increasing public transport, and stopping construction activities during high pollution episodes.
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Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) Emission Standards: India leapfrogged from BS-IV to BS-VI emission standards in April 2020. These stricter norms significantly reduce the permissible levels of pollutants like NOx, PM, and CO from vehicles.
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Promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs): The government has introduced various incentives and policies to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, including the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, which provides subsidies for EV purchases and infrastructure development.
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Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): This scheme aims to reduce indoor air pollution by providing free LPG connections to women from below-poverty-line households, encouraging the use of cleaner cooking fuels instead of biomass.
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Air Quality Index (AQI) Monitoring and Public Awareness: The government has established a network of air quality monitoring stations across the country and provides real-time AQI data to the public. This helps in raising awareness and enabling citizens to take precautionary measures.
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Ban on Stubble Burning: To address the issue of crop residue burning, which significantly contributes to air pollution in northern India, the government has promoted alternative methods like the use of Happy Seeders and other machinery for residue management, along with financial incentives for farmers.
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Industrial Emission Standards: The government has set stringent emission standards for industries and power plants, mandating the use of technologies like electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) to reduce emissions
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For Prelims: Air Pollution, Air Quality Index, PM 2.5, PM 10, BS-VI Vehicles, Graded Response Action Plan, National Capital Region, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon,
For Mains:
1. With the onset of worsening air quality in Mumbai, discuss the importance of the AQI as a critical resource for both the government and the public. How can the AQI assist in addressing air pollution-related challenges in the upcoming winter months? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions 1. In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? (UPSC 2016)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1, 2 and 3 only B. 2, 3 and 4 only C. 1, 4 and 5 only D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Answer: B 2. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? (UPSC 2020)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1, 2 and 3 only B. 2 and 4 only C. 1, 3 and 4 only D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Answer: A 3. What is the ‘Greenhouse Gas Protocol’? (UPSC 2016) (a) It is an international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions (b) It is an initiative of the United Nations to offer financial incentives to developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adopt eco-friendly technologies. (c) It is an inter-governmental agreement ratified by all the member countries of the United Nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to specified levels by the year 2022 (d) It is one of the multilateral REDD+ initiatives hosted by the World Bank Answer: A 4. Photochemical smog is a resultant of the reaction among (UPSC 2013) (a) NO2, O3 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight (b) CO, O2 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the presence of sunlight (c) CO, CO2 and NO2 at low temperature (d) high concentration of NO2 O3 and CO in the evening
Answer: A
5. Acid rain is caused by the pollution of the environment (UPSC 2013, 2022) (a) Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen (b) Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide (c) Ozone and Carbon Dioxide (d) Nitrous Oxide and Sulphur Dioxide Answer: D
6. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for (UPSC 2017) (a) Measuring oxygen level in blood (b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems (c) Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystem (d) Assessing oxygen levels in high-altitude regions Answer: C 7. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently published the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, in 2020. Which of the following statements is correct about EIA? (Punjab Civil Service 2020)
1. It predicts the effect of a proposed industrial/infrastructural project on the environment.
2. It prevents the proposed activity/project from being approved without proper oversight or taking adverse consequences into account.
3. It compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
4. As per the new notification, Coal and non-Coal mineral prospecting and solar photovoltaic projects do not need prior environmental clearance.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2, 3 and 4
C. Only 1, 2 and 3
D. Only 1, 2 and 4
Answer: D
8. Headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization is located in (NDA 2017)
A. Washington B. Geneva C. Moscow D. London
Answer: B
9. With reference to the 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2017)
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only B. 3 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
10. The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. IPCC stands for: (RRB NTPC CBT 2 2022)
A. Intergovernmental Provision on Climate Change
B. International Panel on Climate Change
C. International Provision on Climate Change
D. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Answer: D
11. Comprehension (SSC CHSL 2020)
Direction: In the following passage some words have been deleted. Fill in the blanks with the help of the alternatives given. Select the most appropriate option for each blank.
Forest fire always (1) ______ by one of two reasons-naturally caused or human-caused. Natural fire is generally (2) ______ by lightning, with a very small percentage (3) ______ by spontaneous combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust and leaves. (4) ______, human-caused fire can happen (5) ______ any number of reasons.
Select the most appropriate option for blank No. 1.
A. takes up B. happens C. causes D. creates
Answer: B
12. Which of the following statements best describes the term 'Social Cost of Carbon'? It is a measure, in monetary value, of the (UPSC 2020)
A. long-term damage done by a tonne of CO2 emission in a given year.
B. requirement of fossil fuels for a country to provide goods and services to its citizens, based on the burning of those fuels.
C. efforts put in by a climate refugee to adapt to live in a new place.
D. contribution of an individual person to the carbon footprint on the planet Earth.
Answer: A
13. The increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the air is slowly raising the temperature of the atmosphere, because it absorbs (UPSC 2012)
A. the water vapour of the air and retains its heat
B. the ultraviolet part of the solar radiation
C. all the solar radiations
D. the infrared part of the solar radiation
Answer: D
14. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of a balanced diet, to avoid unhealthy weight gain, total fat should NOT exceed _______ of total energy intake. (UPSSSC Mandi Inspector 2019)
A. 20% B. 30% C. 10% D. 40%
Answer: B
15. What is the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the water purification systems? (UPSC 2012)
1. It inactivates/kills the harmful microorganisms in water.
2. It removes all the undesirable odours from the water.
3. It quickens the sedimentation of solid particles, removes turbidity and improves the clarity of water.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
16. Which of the following ultraviolet rays is more dangerous? (UPTET 2017)
A. UV-A B. UV-B C. UV-C D. None of the above
Answer: C
17. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2019)
1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.
2. Cattle release ammonia into environment.
3. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 2 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
18. Which of the following is a VOC? (MP Vyapam 2022)
A. Toulene B. Water C. Carbon dioxide D. Carbon monoxide
Answer: A
19. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are of great concern because (UGC NET Environmental Science 2020)
A. Once such compounds are in the vapour state, they are difficult to control in the environment.
B. Most of them are ozone depleting substances
C. They contribute to a general increase in reactive hydrocarbons in the atmosphere.
D. They are less soluble in water.
Answer: C
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