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Health
Meghalaya and Mizoram Top India's Clean-Air Rankings, WHO Report Shows
✍️ The Logical Indian
🗓 24 Sep 2026, 05:45 AM
👁 16
World Health Organization data released this week places Meghalaya and Mizoram as the Indian states with the best air quality.
The World Health Organization has published its latest assessment of air quality across Indian states, ranking them by average PM2.5 concentrations. In this analysis, the northeastern states of Meghalaya and Mizoram secured the top positions, emerging as the clean‑air front‑runners in the country.
Both states recorded annual average PM2.5 levels well below the national mean and comfortably within WHO’s recommended safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Extensive forest cover, low industrial density and limited vehicular traffic are cited as key factors behind the favourable readings.
Public‑health specialists say that such low particulate levels can markedly reduce the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, offering a tangible health advantage to residents.
The WHO findings are expected to inform policy discussions, urging other states to adopt stricter emission controls and expand green cover to replicate the success seen in Meghalaya and Mizoram.
Both states recorded annual average PM2.5 levels well below the national mean and comfortably within WHO’s recommended safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. Extensive forest cover, low industrial density and limited vehicular traffic are cited as key factors behind the favourable readings.
Public‑health specialists say that such low particulate levels can markedly reduce the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, offering a tangible health advantage to residents.
The WHO findings are expected to inform policy discussions, urging other states to adopt stricter emission controls and expand green cover to replicate the success seen in Meghalaya and Mizoram.