India’s Pollution Crisis: 22 Of World’s 25 Most Polluted Cities Are Indian; Where Does Delhi Rank?

India accounts for 22 of the world's 25 most polluted cities, with Meerut ranking second. Delhi stayed off the list as its AQI improved to 296, though pollution levels remained high.

Post Published By: DN Bureau

Updated : 24 October 2026, 2:20 PM IST

Air pollution continues to affect cities across India, with 22 of the world's 25 most polluted cities located in the country (Img: Pinterest)

New Delhi: India continues to face a serious air pollution challenge, with 22 of the world's 25 most polluted cities located in the country, according to a real-time ranking by AQI.in.

Several cities across northern India feature prominently on the list, highlighting the widespread nature of the pollution crisis.

Meerut Ranks Second, NCR Cities Among Top 10

According to the ranking recorded at 11 am on October 24, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh secured the second position globally with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 386. Ghaziabad ranked fourth with an AQI of 370, while Haryana's Panipat occupied fifth place at 369.

Noida and Greater Noida also featured among the world's 10 most polluted cities, recording AQI readings of 367 and 361, respectively.

Other Indian cities on the list included Hapur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Sonipat and Karnal. The ranking also featured Bhiwandi and Thane in Maharashtra, Bathinda and Faridkot in Punjab, and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.

The figures underline the scale of India's air pollution problem, which extends beyond major metropolitan areas and affects smaller cities and towns as well

Where Is Delhi in the Pollution Ranking?

Delhi did not appear among the 25 cities listed in the AQI.in ranking at 11 am. The national capital, however, continued to record poor air quality despite a marginal improvement earlier in the morning.

According to AQI.in data, Delhi's AQI stood at 296 at 9:31 am on October 24, down from 337 at the same time on October 23. The 41-point decline offered some relief, although pollution levels remained high.

Delhi's absence from the list does not necessarily indicate a sustained improvement, as real-time AQI rankings change with weather conditions and pollution levels.

Winter Could Intensify Air Pollution

As winter approaches, weaker winds and unfavourable weather conditions could trap pollutants closer to the ground. Vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust and crop-residue burning may further worsen air quality across northern India.

The latest rankings highlight the need for coordinated action across states to address pollution sources and protect public health.