National Ambient Air Quality Standards
India's Air Quality Crisis: Experts Call for Science-Based Standards as WHO Guidelines Remain Unimplemented
Dec 12, 2025 07:43 am CST
India faces severe air pollution with 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities located within its borders. While the government maintains WHO air quality guidelines are merely advisory and defends its 16-year-old standards based on local factors, environmental experts emphasize the urgent need to align policies with health-based science as pollution continues to claim millions of lives annually and significantly reduces life expectancy across the nation.
India Maintains Own Air Quality Standards: Government Rejects Global Rankings as Unofficial
Dec 11, 2025 09:00 pm CST
India's government has clarified that it follows its own National Ambient Air Quality Standards rather than international rankings, which it considers unofficial. Environment Minister highlighted significant improvements in Delhi's air quality with "Good to Moderate" days increasing from 110 in 2016 to 200 in 2025, while farm fires have decreased by 90% compared to 2022. The country maintains PM2.5 standards at 60 μg/m³ (24-hour) and 40 μg/m³ (annual), considerably higher than WHO's recommended 15 μg/m³ and 5 μg/m³ respectively.