Air Pollution In India

Cong MP demands Beijing-style action plan to cut air pollution levels

As Delhi faces another hazardous smog spell, Congress MP Manickam Tagore accused the Centre of weak enforcement and urged a Beijing-style, time-bound clean air action plan with stricter accountability

No conclusive data links deaths exclusively to air pollution: MoS Health

There is no conclusive data available in the country to establish a direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution, Minister of State for Health, Prataprao Jadhav, told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Air pollution is one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases, Jadhav said in a written reply. The health effects of air pollution are a synergistic manifestation of factors, which include food habits, occupational habits, socioeconomic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals. The government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues, he said. The National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been implemented with an objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on climate sensitive health issues since 2019, according to the reply. Under NPCCHH, the government of India has develope

Respiratory drug sales surge in November as air quality continues to worsen

Rising pollution levels in November have led to a sharp jump in respiratory medicine sales, with asthma and allergy treatments seeing strong demand

Drop in AQI levels across India lead to rise in respiratory drugs sales

Winter triggered ailments no longer just a seasonal fluctuation but an escalating public health trigger due to air pollution, say experts

Dyson launches HushJet Purifier Compact in India: Check price and features

Dyson's new HushJet Purifier Compact brings stronger airflow, quieter performance and a long-lasting 360-degree Electrostatic Filter to help improve air quality in compact spaces

Air pollution 101: 13 key terms to help you protect your family's health

Air quality warnings can feel confusing, but understanding basic pollution terminology can help you navigate rising health risks and respond with timely precautions

How toxic air is quietly triggering behavioural changes in children

As toxic air penetrates deep into the bloodstream and reaches the brain, experts warn of rising neuroinflammation in children that can quietly shape behaviour, learning and development

How heavy metals in polluted air trigger fatigue, headaches and brain fog

Beyond PM2.5 and PM10, polluted air carries neurotoxic metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium that inflame the brain, disrupt energy pathways and trigger fatigue and fogginess on high-AQI days

National Pollution Control Day 2025: Know its history and relevance today

Observed annually on December 2, the day pays tribute to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy and reinforces India's commitment to better pollution management and public health protection

Best of BS Opinion: Will a 25% rate cut make any meaningful difference?

Today's Best of BS Opinion looks at India's real GDP growth contrasts with weak nominal growth, persistent air pollution, confusion over AI , and uncertain labour-code implementation and more

Air pollution, SIR, Vande Mataram: Key issues and bills in Winter Session

Winter Session of Parliament could see debates on air pollution, electoral revisions, Vande Mataram, and key bills spanning nuclear energy, higher education, and corporate law

Delhi tops PM2.5 pollution list; 447 districts breach national norm: Report

Delhi ranked as the most polluted among 33 states and Union territories with an annual mean PM2.5 concentration of 101 micrograms per cubic metre, 2.5 times the Indian standard and 20 times the WHO guideline, according to a new satellite-based analysis. The report by the independent research organisation Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said Chandigarh recorded the second-highest annual average PM2.5 level at 70 micrograms per cubic metre during the study period from March 2024 to February 2025, followed by Haryana at 63 and Tripura at 62. Assam (60), Bihar (59), West Bengal (57), Punjab (56), Meghalaya (53) and Nagaland (52) also exceeded the national standard. Overall, 447 of the 749 districts (60 per cent) analysed breached the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for annual PM2.5 of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. The most polluted districts are heavily concentrated in a few states, the analysis showed. Delhi (11 districts) and Assam (11 districts) together

Statsguru: 'Climate' change is the only constant amid grim pollution data

While the city saw rising levels of air quality index (AQI), the nation as a whole did not rank quite well in the two reports released on the sidelines of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30)

Delhi's air quality stays 'severe' as AQI crosses 400; SC asks CAQM to act

Supreme Court gives CAQM 'full authority' to take proactive, stakeholder-backed measures to tackle Delhi-NCR's worsening air pollution

SC declines to hear wellness expert's PIL on India's air pollution

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a fresh PIL by a wellness expert seeking urgent judicial intervention to tackle a "persistent and systemic failure" in addressing the country's rising air pollution levels. The top court, however, allowed holistic health coach Luke Christopher Coutinho to withdraw the PIL and file an intervention plea in a pending case filed by environmentalist M C Mehta on pollution. "The petitioner seeks liberty to withdraw the plea to file an intervention in pending proceedings in the MC Mehta case," the CJI said. The court is scheduled to hear the main plea on pollution on Wednesday. Coutinho had filed the plea on October 24 and made the Centre, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), several Union ministries, NITI Aayog, and the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra as parties. The plea said the current air pollution crisis has reached proportions of a "public

Can jaggery really protect the lungs from pollution, or is it just a myth?

As air quality dips and jaggery resurfaces as a "lung cleanser", experts say the belief rests on nostalgia and old animal studies, not human science, and explain what actually helps

Is air pollution just a winter issue? These myths put your health at risk

From masks and plants to Diwali and ACs, pulmonologists break down the myths standing in the way of clean air and better health

Delhi air remains 'severe'; GRAP Stage III curbs imposed, schools go hybrid

AQI crosses 400 mark in 31 of 39 monitoring stations; construction activities restricted, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles barred under new curbs

Delhi air quality turns 'severe' with AQI at 442; Jahangirpuri worst hit

North and east Delhi's industrial belts continue to choke, with Jahangirpuri, Rohini, and Shahdara topping the city's pollution list, according to a hyperlocal study

Doctors warn of surge in chest ailments due to air pollution in Delhi-NCR

Medical specialists have warned residents of Delhi-NCR about a severe health crisis triggered by the high air pollution in the region. Dr Arvind Kumar, Thoracic (Chest) Surgeon & Lung Health Specialist, Medanta Hospital, said that hospitals are seeing a spike in cases related to effect of pollutionThe NCR Region faces poor air quality with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 345 at 8 a.m. on Monday, placing the national capital firmly in the 'very poor' category.While talking to ANI, Dr Arvind Kumar described how hospitals are overwhelmed with respiratory cases, especially among children, due to air pollution. It includes symptoms like cough, cold, fever and difficulty breathing."There are patients all around. Everywhere, children are being brought to hospitals coughing, sneezing, having a runny nose, breathing fast, and having a fever. We have patients who are coming back with a cough or pneumonia. There is a huge spike in the number of chest cases. It's all the doctors ...