March 11, 2025: The world AirQuality Report by IQAir of Switzerland has declared Byrnihat at Assam-Meghalaya border as most polluted city in the world.
The report brings some really shocking news as 13 of the top 20 polluted cities in the world are in India.
Apart from that, Delhi still holds the position of the most polluted capital in the world.
One slight relief is that, India is now the 5th most polluted country in the world, as it was placed at the 3rd position in 2023.
According to the report, the country saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024. Even after that, 6 of the top 10 polluted cities in the world are still in India.
Our neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan are placed at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, in terms of most polluted countries in the world.
Air pollution continues to be a major health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by 5 years on average.