Overview
- CREA’s satellite assessment for March 2024–February 2025 reports Delhi’s population‑weighted annual PM2.5 at 101 µg/m³, followed by Chandigarh at 70, Haryana at 63 and Tripura at 62.
- Out of 749 districts, 447 exceeded India’s 40 µg/m³ annual limit while none met the WHO 5 µg/m³ guideline, and Delhi and Assam each account for 11 of the 50 most polluted districts.
- The Northeast airshed emerges as a sustained hotspot through the year, whereas southern states are relatively cleaner, led by Puducherry at 25 µg/m³.
- Seasonal patterns show 82% of districts breaching standards in winter, a broad improvement during the monsoon, and a rapid resurgence post‑monsoon.
- Delhi’s AQI registered a ‘very poor’ 361 today, with reports noting potential extra haze from an Ethiopian volcanic ash plume and renewed scrutiny of NCAP’s limited progress and under‑used funds.