Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Clean Air Day 2026: 108 Indian Cities Improve, 22 Worsen
India checked how much pollution was in 130 cities during 2025-26.
In 108 cities, annual PM10 pollution was lower than it was in 2017-18.
In 22 cities, pollution became higher.
However, lower pollution does not always mean the air is safe.
Only 14 cities met the national PM10 limit of 60 µg/m³.
Visakhapatnam had the largest increase in PM10 pollution.
Delhi improved compared with its old level, but its pollution was still much higher than the national standard.
Clean Air Day reminds people that cities need lasting action to reduce dust, vehicle pollution, waste burning and industrial emissions.
Government data shows 108 of 130 National Clean Air Programme cities lowered annual PM10 levels in FY 2025-26 compared with 2017-18.
Among them, 72 cities reduced PM10 by more than 20%, while 26 achieved reductions exceeding 40%.
Only 14 cities met India’s annual PM10 standard of 60 µg/m³ in 2025-26, up from six in 2017-18.
Visakhapatnam recorded the sharpest increase, with PM10 rising from 76 to 119 µg/m³, an increase of more than 56%.
Delhi’s annual PM10 fell from its baseline but remained high at 200 µg/m³, while its annual PM2.5 level was 102 µg/m³.
- Who
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the 130 cities covered by the National Clean Air Programme.
- What
- Government data found that annual PM10 levels improved in 108 cities and worsened in 22 during FY 2025-26 compared with the 2017-18 baseline.
- When
- The findings were reported on September 7, 2026; the comparison covers FY 2025-26 and 2017-18.
- Where
- Across 130 Indian cities covered by the National Clean Air Programme.
- Why
- The data was highlighted for Clean Air Day, also observed in India as Swachh Vayu Diwas, to focus attention on particulate pollution and the need for cleaner air.
- Cities improved
- 108 of 130 NCAP cities recorded lower annual PM10 levels than in 2017-18.
- Cities worsened
- 22 NCAP cities recorded higher annual PM10 levels than in 2017-18.
- PM10 reductions
- 72 cities reduced annual PM10 by more than 20%; 26 reduced it by more than 40%.
- Cities meeting standard
- 14 cities met the annual PM10 standard of 60 µg/m³ in 2025-26, compared with six in 2017-18.
- Sharpest increase
- Visakhapatnam rose from 76 to 119 µg/m³, an increase of more than 56%.
- Delhi PM10
- Delhi recorded annual PM10 of 200 µg/m³ in 2025-26.
- Clean-air funding
- The government said ₹16,423.56 crore in performance-based incentive grants was released to 130 cities between FY 2019-20 and FY 2025-26.