India Holds 13 of World's 20 Most Polluted Cities, Delhi Excluded, Report Says

India Today’s latest air‑quality survey lists 13 Indian cities among the 20 most polluted urban centres worldwide, underscoring the scale of the nation’s environmental challenge. The ranking, compiled from real‑time particulate matter (PM2.5) data, places cities such as Ghaziabad, Kanpur and Varanasi at the top of the list, each recording concentrations well above the World Health Organization’s safe limits.

The report highlights that despite Delhi’s long‑standing reputation for poor air quality, it does not appear in this week’s top‑20 tally. Analysts attribute the shift to a combination of stricter emission controls, temporary reductions in vehicular traffic and favorable weather patterns that have helped disperse pollutants.

Environmental health experts warn that the presence of a majority of Indian cities in the global polluter list remains a public‑health concern, calling for sustained policy measures, cleaner energy adoption and increased public awareness to curb the trend.