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Wednesday, August 19, 2026
TopicAir quality

Topic: air quality

More than 80% cities under National Clean Air Programme fail on air quality norms

The National Clean Air Programme was launched in 2019 by the environment ministry to improve air quality in 130 cities, which did not achieve national air quality standards.

India’s air quality now a global embarrassment & it’s no longer just Delhi’s problem

In multiple posts on X, US entrepreneur Bryan Johnson wrote that despite wearing a mask indoors, he had to cut short his visit to India. He was in Mumbai to record a podcast episode.

Indian air quality isn’t just about big cities. Look at what villages, small towns can do too

While the number of air quality monitoring stations in India has grown in the last 5 years, most of the deployment was in urban centres—leaving rural areas sparsely monitored.

31 cities under Centre’s National Clean Air Programme saw air quality worsen in last 5 years

Environment ministry data in LS shows Vizag & Angul saw more than 50% spike in PM10 concentrations. Some cities made progress, Varanasi topping list & Delhi seeing marginal improvement.

Farm fires caused just 4% of Delhi’s air pollution, vehicles main culprit, finds pre-Diwali analysis

Number of bad air days increased as compared to same period in 2023 & 2022, according to CSE. Local sources in Delhi & neighbouring areas responsible for this, it adds.

India among worst performers in air quality index in 2023, says WHO report

India's pollution increased last year, with PM2.5 levels about 11 times higher than the WHO standard, with New Delhi performing worst at 92.7 micrograms.

Fixing air can bring golden age in India-Pakistan ties. Climate action is good for diplomacy

The smog crisis common to both India and Pakistan could provide an opportunity for collaborative climate action. It has the potential to reduce tension between the two countries.

Kolkata was more polluted than Delhi on some days. But where’s the noise?

Delhi government at least seems to be trying to deal with air pollution. In Kolkata, little is being done to control the menace. Guidelines are followed more in the breach than observance. 

‘Govts already using our data to manage air quality’ — IIT-K prof who won Infosys Prize for air sensors

Professor Sachida Nand Tripathi conferred Infosys Prize 2023 in Engineering & Computer Science for deploying air pollution sensor networks & his work into understanding haze formation.

India was 8th most polluted country in 2022, with PM2.5 levels 10 times the WHO limit: IQAir report

Bhiwadi in Rajasthan was the most polluted city in India and second-most polluted in central and south Asia region. Delhi was not far behind, followed by Darbhanga and Asopur.

On Camera

We knew Modi’s attack on institutions was bad for Indian economy. Now we have proof

For die-hard Modi supporters who couldn’t care less about institutions, a new study shows that India’s per capita income was 10% lower under Modi than it might otherwise have been.

PM Internship Scheme sees stronger response in third pilot round

More candidates have joined 3rd pilot round so far than combined number from first two rounds. Govt expects this round to be the final pilot before full rollout.

Hafiz Saeed’s Muridke headquarters was hit by woman fighter pilot during Op Sindoor

ThePrint has learnt that more than one women fighter pilots were involved in targeting military locations during the 87-hour conflict with Pakistan last year.

Gen Vaidya won 2 Maha Vir Chakras, fell to assassins’ bullets 40 yrs ago. India forgot a great soldier

Forty years ago this week, ‘Khalistan Commando Force’ assassins were closing in on Gen Vaidya. So callous was the security of the just-retired Army chief that he was given a solitary police gunman