Most Polluted City in India by November 2024, Check the List of Top-10

Air pollution in India has reached dangerous levels in 2024, especially in northern cities. Many cities have AQI (Air Quality Index) readings marked as “hazardous,” impacting millions. Major causes include vehicle emissions, industrial output, and construction dust. This article looks at the 10 most polluted cities in India as of November 2024, highlighting their challenges.

India’s Most Polluted City by November 2024

By November 2024, Delhi had an average AQI of 310, marked as “Hazardous” according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This placed Delhi at the top of India’s most polluted cities. Due to the serious rise in pollution, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-II) was implemented in Delhi-NCR to control the worsening air quality.

Top-10 Most Polluted Cities in India by November 2024

New Delhi, with an Air Quality Index of 371, stands as the most polluted city of India by November 2024, followed by Rohtak, Sonipat and Bhiwadi.

Here is the list of top-10 most polluted cities in India by November 2024:

Most Polluted Cities in India by November 2024
Rank	Cities	AQI Score
1.	New Delhi	371
2.	Rohtak	357
3.	Sonipat	345
4.	Bhiwadi	317
5.	Kalyan	278
6.	Ghaziabad	267
7.	Vrindawan	266
8.	Churu	260
9.	Hisar	236
10.	Rajgir	234

An Overview of AQI

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a scale used to show how clean or polluted the air is and how it may affect health. The AQI ranges from 0 to 500, with higher numbers meaning more pollution and greater health risks. It is calculated by measuring levels of six main pollutants to give an overall score for air quality.

Indications of AQI

AQI is divided into six categories, each with a different level of health concern and color. Here is the list of categories of AQI:

• Green: Good, 0 to 50
• Yellow: Moderate, 51 to 100
• Orange: Unhealthy for sensitive groups, 101 to 150
• Red: Unhealthy, 151 to 200
• Purple: Very unhealthy, 201 to 300
• Maroon: Hazardous, 301 and higher