Top 10 States in India With Worst AQI

Air quality remains a pressing issue in India, with Delhi, Singrauli and several cities in Haryana facing severe pollution challenges in 2024. The main pollutants PM2.5 and PM10 have surged due to vehicle emissions, straw burning and industrial production. Activities, especially during winter and post-monsoon seasons. Here are the 10 worst states in India for air quality index (AQI) as of October 2024:

rank

City

state

air quality index

Air Quality Index Category

prominent pollutants

1

delhi

delhi

310

Very bad

PM2.5, PM10

2

Singrauli

madhya pradesh

300

poor

PM2.5

3

Bhiwani

Haryana

Chapter 289

poor

PM2.5

4

Rohtak

Haryana

Chapter 283

poor

PM2.5

5

Kinder

Haryana

Chapter 277

poor

PM2.5

6

Ghaziabad

uttar pradesh

Chapter 257

poor

PM2.5

7

bahadurgarh

Haryana

255

poor

PM2.5

8

Noida

uttar pradesh

Chapter 252

poor

PM2.5

9

Ketal

Haryana

239

poor

PM2.5

10

Hajipur

bihar

236

poor

PM2.5

Delhi remains the city with the worst air quality, with an AQI of 310, classified as “very poor”. The severe pollution levels in these areas are largely attributed to factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities and seasonal crop burning, especially in northern states like Haryana and Punjab.

Seasonal patterns in air quality index (AQI) levels across Indian states show significant fluctuations influenced by meteorological conditions and human activities. Here are the key observations about these seasonal changes:

Winter (December to February)

Temperature inversion: Cold air traps pollutants near the ground, increasing particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM10.

Stubble burning: Agricultural activities are an important contributor during this period as farmers burn the stubble of their crops.

More heating: Burning solid fuels for heating in rural areas further increases the burden of particulate matter in the atmosphere.

Winter accounts for approximately 43.59% of the overall AQI readings in different seasons, and cities generally have higher AQI values ​​compared to other seasons.

Post-monsoon season (October-November)

The main reasons why air quality deteriorates after the monsoon season are:

Crop residue burning: This activity peaks in October and November, leading to increased air pollution levels in northern states.

Weather conditions: The weather is getting cooler and the air is stagnant, exacerbating the accumulation of pollutants.

Occasional events: Events like Diwali can also cause short-term spikes in pollution, as the fireworks themselves are estimated to emit 142 gigagrams of nitrogen oxide and 73 gigagrams of PM2.5 above normal.

Monsoon season (June to September)

Generally speaking, air quality improves during the monsoon season:

Washout effect: Rainwater washes away suspended particles in the atmosphere, thereby reducing the AQI value.

Suppress dust storms: Rainfall can suppress dust storms, which can exacerbate poor air quality during dry months.

Some studies have found that AQI values ​​can drop dramatically during this season compared to winter.

Summer (March to May)

Mixed trends are likely to occur during the summer months:

Dust storms: In drier areas, increased dust can lead to increased pollution levels – more severe in April and May.

Thermal effects: Higher temperatures should increase photochemical reactions, thereby increasing ozone levels.

Looking at the seasonal pattern, winter pollution is always at the highest level in most states in India, while the monsoon season remains low or slightly above moderate pollution levels, thus requiring proper management of air quality.

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