Overview

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirms that annual PM10 levels in all 11 major Indian metropolitan cities have exceeded the national safety limit of 60 µg/m³ for the past four years.
• Northern cities, including Delhi, Patna, and Lucknow, recorded the highest PM10 concentrations, with Delhi's Anand Vihar station peaking at 313.8 µg/m³ in 2024.
• Mumbai's air pollution persists year-round, with hotspots like Malad West recording 154.5 µg/m³ in 2024 and Shivaji Nagar reaching 211.0 µg/m³ in 2023.
• Key sources of PM10 pollution include vehicular emissions, unregulated construction dust, waste burning, industrial activities, and seasonal phenomena such as crop residue burning.
• Experts call for stricter enforcement of dust suppression measures, expanded public transport, improved traffic management, and real-time air quality monitoring to address the crisis.