EnvironmentGeography
News 0 of 31

IQAir Air Quality Report 2025: India Ranked 6th Most Polluted Country, Delhi Top Polluted Capital

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
26 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:48.9 μg/m³ PM2.5 (India)67.3 μg/m³ PM2.5 (Pakistan)1.8 μg/m³ PM2.5 (French Polynesia)13 countries met WHO guideline
Bodies:WHO
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025 ranks countries based on PM2.5 concentration, with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan being the top three most polluted.

2.India stands as the sixth most polluted country globally, and its capital, New Delhi, is the most polluted capital city.

3.Only 13 countries met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline, highlighting the widespread challenge of air pollution.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

This report provides critical global and national rankings on air pollution, a pressing environmental and health issue. Understanding these rankings, the PM2.5 metric, and India's position is essential for exams covering environmental governance, public health, and international reports.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Report NameIQAir World Air Quality Report 2025
WHO PM2.5 GuidelineAnnual average guideline value (reference)
Countries Meeting Guideline13 countries (14% of cities)
Most Polluted CountryPakistan (67.3 μg/m³ PM2.5)
Least Polluted CountryFrench Polynesia (1.8 μg/m³ PM2.5)
India's Rank6th most polluted (48.9 μg/m³ PM2.5)
Most Polluted CapitalNew Delhi, India
Region with Highest PollutionCentral and South Asia
Region with Cleanest AirOceania
Data SourceOver 80,000 sensors in 10,000 cities across 143 countries

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Report Name: IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025
  • ›WHO PM2.5 Guideline: Annual average guideline value (reference)
  • ›Target this Data: India's rank (6th) and PM2.5 value (48.9 μg/m³)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which statutory body in India is primarily responsible for coordinating national air quality monitoring as mentioned in the context of such reports?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements based on the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025:

1. According to the report, only 13 countries met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline.

2. The report identified Islamabad, Pakistan as the most polluted capital city in the world.

3. The region with the cleanest air according to the report was Oceania.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025, what was India's average PM2.5 concentration (in μg/m³)?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

India's ranking as the sixth most polluted country in the IQAir report primarily underscores a challenge in which of the following domains?

All 15 MCQs ▸
You finished this topic
Explore Related Topics
Related Current Affairs
Environment Current Affairs

Climate Impact Lab Report Projects 15,800 Additional Heat Deaths in India Due to Super El Nino

The Climate Impact Lab projects 15,800 additional heat-related deaths in India between Sept 2026 and Feb 2027 due to the ongoing 'Super El Niño'. Globally, 451,000 excess deaths are expected in the first six months. The report warns that this El Niño is a 'postcard from the future', bringing temperatures typical of 20 years from now without adaptation.

Environment Current Affairs

15,800 Excess Heat Deaths Projected in India Amid Super El Niño: CIL Report

A new report from the Climate Impact Lab warns of 15,800 excess heat-related deaths in India between September 2026 and February 2027, driven by a Super El Niño. Southern India is especially vulnerable. This is a 'postcard from the future' – a preview of climate impacts 20 years ahead.

Environment Current Affairs

Systemiq Report: 21.5% of India’s GDP (₹64.8 Lakh Cr) Dependent on Himalayas; Black Carbon from Brick Kilns Key Threat

A new report by Systemiq estimates that 21.5% of India’s FY24 GDP (₹64.8 lakh crore) is underpinned by the Himalayan water systems, which are threatened by glacier melt and black carbon emissions. The report highlights brick kilns as a major source of black carbon that India can control, proposing a fund to modernize brickmaking and cut emissions by up to 70%.

Environment Current Affairs

UN Report: 14 Million at Risk of Permanent Inundation; Sea Level Rise Hits Record 5.9 mm in 2024

A new UN report submitted to the General Assembly warns that sea levels rose at a record 5.9 mm in 2024, threatening 14 million people in South Asian megacities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Dhaka with permanent inundation. For Mumbai, risks are compounded by land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, and increasing extreme rainfall events. This is critical for disaster management, climate change adaptation, and geography syllabus.

Environment Current Affairs

Nepal Demands Climate Compensation from US, China, India After Glacial Flood Kills 1,200

Nepal, emitting only 0.1% of global GHGs, is demanding direct compensation from the top three emitters (US, China, India) after a glacial collapse killed 1,200+ people. This shifts the climate debate from charity to legal liability, testing the limits of adaptation and the principle of climate justice.

Environment Current Affairs

NDMA Plans Comprehensive Study of Nepal Glacial Collapse; India Achieves 20% Ethanol Blending by 2025-26

A hanging glacier collapse in Nepal triggered a devastating flash flood, killing over 350, prompting NDMA to plan a comprehensive study to reduce GLOF risks in India. Simultaneously, India achieved 20% ethanol blending by 2025-26, five years ahead of schedule, but faces backlash from older vehicle owners; discussions on offering E10 alongside E20 are underway. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra saw a surge in 2026 after resumption, and India-China special representatives reached an eight-point consensus on border management.

Environment Current Affairs

Black Carbon Crisis: 1/3 Himalayan Glacier Loss Linked to 32-42% Brick Kiln Soot Emissions

A new Systemiq report titled 'A Resilient Himalaya' links about one-third of Himalayan glacier mass loss to South Asian black carbon, with brick kilns contributing 32–42% of the deposition. Since black carbon is a short-lived pollutant, reducing kiln emissions can simultaneously improve local air quality and slow glacier melt — a rare fast-win climate action for India.

Environment Current Affairs

Hurricane Polo Turns Category 5; Strong El Niño May Cause 451,000 Additional Global Heat Deaths

Hurricane Polo has intensified into a Category 5 storm off Mexico's Pacific coast, with maximum sustained winds of 270 kmph. This is unfolding against an unusually strong El Niño that the WMO expects to persist through February 2027. El Niño is being watched closely because it can disrupt rainfall worldwide—the Climate Impact Lab projects 451,000 additional heat-related deaths globally, including about 15,800 in India.