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Delhi was the most polluted city during 2024-25, recording the highest annual PM2.5 levels and extended periods of "severe" air quality in winter while Patna was the second-most polluted city, according to a new analysis by Climate Trends. Climate Trends is a research-based consulting and capacity-building initiative that aims to bring greater focus on issues of environment, climate change and sustainable development. Based on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality monitoring data, this report analysed how meteorological conditions influence the persistence of PM2.5 pollution across six major Indian cities such as Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. Using CPCB air quality data (2024-2025) combined with meteorological clustering, the study distinguished emission-driven pollution from weather-driven variability. "Delhi continues to face the most severe pollution crisis nationally with the highest annual average PM2.5 levels and the longest stretches of ..
Around 43 per cent of Rs 300 crore allocated under Pollution Control and Emergency Measures in the Delhi budget for 2025-26 has been utilised till January 20, 2026, according to an RTI reply. In response to an Right to Information (RTI) application filed by PTI, the environment department of Delhi government stated that Rs 129.83 crore has been spent under Pollution Control and Emergency Measures during the period. The expenditure was largely on short-term air pollution mitigation measures carried with funds disbursed to the Public Works Department by the environment department. According to the response, Rs 23.37 crore was spent on installation of mist spray systems on electric poles and central verges along road stretches in Delhi. Around Rs 58.83 crore was used for hiring 200 truck-mounted anti-smog guns, and Rs 47.12 crore was spent on another batch of 200 truck-mounted anti-smog guns hired in 2024-25. Additionally, the environment department was allotted Rs 506 crore for FY .
The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses of the union ministries on a proposal for shifting all coal-based industries out of Delhi-NCR to ensure better air quality. In a bid to deal with the persistent air quality crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR), a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi Vipul M Pancholi said it will examine the issue of vehicular air pollution on March 12 based on the suggestions made by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). It also sought responses of all the stakeholders on the measures suggested by the CAQM to deal with dust due to construction and demolition activities. The top court sought responses of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), MoPNG (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) and the Ministry of Power on the suggestions that no new coal-based thermal power plant be set up within 300 km of Delhi. The court directed Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan to issue publ