85% of Indian Cities Fail WHO Air Quality Standards in July
Public Lokpal
August 17, 2026
85% of Indian Cities Fail WHO Air Quality Standards in July
A recent CREA report reveals a persistent air quality crisis in India, with approximately 85% of cities failing to meet the World Health Organization’s daily safe guidelines for PM2.5 in July.
Despite monsoon rains typically washing away pollutants, 215 out of 256 monitored cities recorded monthly average PM2.5 levels exceeding the global benchmark of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain emerged as a major hotspot, with Bihar's Aurangabad and Manguraha recording alarmingly high pollution concentrations.
Conversely, Dombivli in Maharashtra registered the cleanest air at 4 micrograms per cubic meter.
While major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru stayed within India's more lenient national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic meter, the findings underscore that localized emissions—such as vehicular traffic, dust, and industrial output—continue to drive severe air quality challenges even during the wet season.