Why New Delhi Was Ranked The World’s ‘most Polluted’ City In 2023

India’s capital saw its air quality worsen since 2022.

A man walks along a road on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/Files

A report conducted by Swiss-based air quality monitoring firm, IQAir, has found that India’s Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital city in 2023.

Per the report, India was also ranked as the third-most polluted country in the world behind Bangladesh and Pakistan. The study also added that India’s capital saw its air quality worsen since 2022.

India was ranked eighth most populated country some few years ago but air pollution and measures to tackle the menace have significantly surged in the Asian country.

In measurement, the IQAir report ranked India’s average level of PM2.5 to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre. This means that fine particulate matter in the air can clog lungs resulting in various diseases.

Living in Delhi is ist dangerous

For Delhi, overall air quality was pegged at 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre PM2.5 – ranked severe and dangerous.

To be considered in the safe zone, air quality must be in range of 12 to 15 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5. Also, the air values which are above 35 micrograms per cubic metre is considered unhealthy.

Some experts point that lack of stringent environmental laws and increased industrialization have all contributed to the increased population thereby impacting on air quality.

In the last few decades, India has been grappling with poor industrial regulation as many factories have often ignored specified pollution-control measures.

In addition, increased urbanization has also resulted in rapid construction in India which has contributed to increasing pollution levels.

Toxic air

Meanwhile, in 2023, India’s government had to close down school and colleges for days due to toxicity of the air within certain periods.

Last year, the government shut schools and colleges for several days in a row due to the toxic air.

Again, the northern Indian city of Beguserai and the northeastern city of Guwahati were ranked as the two most polluted cities in the world.

Only seven countries met the World Health Organization (WHO)’s annual PM2.5 guideline, which is an annual average of 5 micrograms per cubic metre or less.