Top 10 Indian Cities With the Best and Worst Air Quality in November 2025
As winter sets in, India’s air pollution problem has returned with alarming severity—particularly in North India. Low wind speeds, falling temperatures, and increased emissions have pushed the Air Quality Index (AQI) of several major cities into the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ category.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and data from IQAir Live AQI⁺ Rankings, New Delhi continues to hold the grim title of the world’s most polluted capital city, as of November 25, 2025.
| AQI Range | Air Quality Category | Health Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Minimal impact |
| 51–100 | Satisfactory | Minor breathing discomfort |
| 101–200 | Moderately Polluted | Discomfort to sensitive individuals |
| 201–300 | Poor | Breathing discomfort on prolonged exposure |
| 301–400 | Very Poor | Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure |
| 401–500 | Severe | Serious health impacts; emergency conditions |
The National Capital Region (NCR) dominates this list, with cities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana recording dangerously high pollution levels.
| Rank | City | State | AQI | Category | Major Pollutants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hapur | Uttar Pradesh | 416 | Severe | PM2.5 |
| 2 | Noida | Uttar Pradesh | 397 | Very Poor | PM10, PM2.5 |
| 3 | Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh | 396 | Very Poor | PM10, PM2.5 |
| 4 | Delhi (NCT) | Delhi | 382 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
| 5 | Greater Noida | Uttar Pradesh | 382 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
| 6 | Charkhi Dadri | Haryana | 366 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
| 7 | Bulandshahr | Uttar Pradesh | 356 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
| 8 | Meerut | Uttar Pradesh | 350 | Very Poor | PM10, PM2.5 |
| 9 | Manesar | Haryana | 342 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
| 10 | Baghpat | Uttar Pradesh | 330 | Very Poor | PM2.5 |
In sharp contrast, Southern and Northeastern states have shown remarkable air quality. Tamil Nadu dominates the list with clean, breathable air in 8 out of 10 cities.
| Rank | City | State | AQI | Category | Main Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ariyalur | Tamil Nadu | 13 | Good | SO₂ |
| 2 | Ooty | Tamil Nadu | 15 | Good | SO₂ |
| 3 | Karur | Tamil Nadu | 16 | Good | SO₂ |
| 3 | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | 16 | Good | SO₂ |
| 4 | Thanjavur | Tamil Nadu | 17 | Good | SO₂ |
| 5 | Shillong | Meghalaya | 17 | Good | PM10 |
| 6 | Perundurai | Tamil Nadu | 21 | Good | PM10 |
| 7 | Tirupur | Tamil Nadu | 22 | Good | CO |
| 8 | Salem | Tamil Nadu | 22 | Good | PM2.5 |
| 9 | Mangalore | Karnataka | 25 | Good | O₃ |
| 10 | Davanagere | Karnataka | 26 | Good | CO |
Several factors contribute to the North’s pollution crisis:
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