Breathing has become a privilege in India’s National Capital Region. A shocking new report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals that Delhi, despite all its pollution headlines, only ranks sixth among India’s most polluted cities in October 2025. Even more alarming? All 10 of the country’s most polluted cities are concentrated in the NCR region, painting a grim picture of the Indo-Gangetic Plain’s air quality crisis.
Table of Contents
India’s 2025 Most Polluted Cities at a Glance
| Rank | City | State | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | NAAQS Breach Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dharuhera | Haryana | 123 | 77% of days |
| 2 | Rohtak | Haryana | Not specified | High |
| 3 | Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh | Not specified | Very High |
| 4 | Noida | Uttar Pradesh | Not specified | Very High |
| 5 | Ballabgarh | Haryana | Not specified | High |
| 6 | Delhi | Delhi | 107 | 84% of days |
| 7 | Bhiwadi | Rajasthan | Not specified | High |
| 8 | Greater Noida | Uttar Pradesh | Not specified | Very High |
| 9 | Hapur | Uttar Pradesh | Not specified | High |
| 10 | Gurgaon | Haryana | Not specified | High |
The Toxic Top 10: City-by-City Breakdown
1. Dharuhera, Haryana – India’s Pollution Capital
The industrial town in Rewari district topped the charts with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 123 µg/m³—more than double the safe limit. Dharuhera recorded two ‘Severe’ and nine ‘Very Poor’ air quality days, making it virtually unlivable during October. The concentration of manufacturing units and lack of adequate pollution control measures have turned this Haryana town into a public health emergency.
2. Rohtak, Haryana – The Silent Sufferer
Rohtak secured the unenviable second position in this pollution race. This agricultural and industrial hub battles emissions from brick kilns, vehicular pollution, and seasonal crop burning. With a growing population and rapid urbanization, Rohtak’s air quality infrastructure struggles to keep pace with its pollution sources.
3. Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – Delhi’s Toxic Neighbor
Consistently ranking among India’s most polluted cities, Ghaziabad’s proximity to Delhi, combined with dense industrial activity and construction dust, creates a perfect storm of poor air quality. The city’s residents face daily health risks, with respiratory issues becoming increasingly common.
4. Noida, Uttar Pradesh – Where IT Meets Toxicity
Despite being a modern IT hub with gleaming corporate towers, Noida can’t escape the pollution plague. Construction activities, vehicular emissions from thousands of daily commuters, and industrial emissions from nearby areas contribute to dangerously high PM2.5 levels that no air purifier can fully combat.
5. Ballabgarh, Haryana – The Industrial Hotspot
This industrial town in Faridabad district faces severe pollution from its numerous manufacturing units, particularly in the automotive and steel sectors. The lack of green spaces and buffer zones between residential and industrial areas exacerbates the health impact on residents.
6. Delhi – The National Embarrassment
Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 107 µg/m³ in October—three times higher than September’s 36 µg/m³. The capital’s pollution sources are well-documented: vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution, and waste burning. Interestingly, stubble burning contributed less than 6% to Delhi’s pollution in October, debunking the popular narrative that farm fires are the primary culprit. The reality? Year-round emission sources are the real villains.
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7. Bhiwadi, Rajasthan – The Border Town Burden
Straddling the Haryana-Rajasthan border, Bhiwadi’s industrial estates pump pollutants into the air with alarming regularity. The town’s strategic location makes it an attractive industrial destination, but at a devastating environmental cost. Residents here share the same toxic air as their NCR counterparts.
8. Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – Expanding Into Toxicity
As Greater Noida expands with new residential and commercial developments, its air quality deteriorates proportionally. Massive construction projects, increasing vehicular traffic, and proximity to industrial zones create a toxic cocktail that residents breathe daily.
9. Hapur, Uttar Pradesh – The Overlooked Crisis
Often overshadowed by bigger NCR cities, Hapur faces its own severe pollution crisis. The combination of paper mills, sugar factories, agricultural residue burning, and inadequate waste management systems makes this district town one of October’s worst performers.
10. Gurgaon (Gurugram), Haryana – Corporate Hub, Toxic Air
Despite being home to Fortune 500 companies and luxury high-rises, Gurgaon couldn’t escape the top 10. The millennium city’s rapid growth brought prosperity but also unprecedented pollution. Traffic congestion, construction dust, and industrial emissions from surrounding areas ensure Gurgaon’s residents pay a heavy health price for economic progress.
The Stark Regional Divide
Four cities each from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh dominated the top 10 list, all concentrated within the NCR. Meanwhile, Shillong in Meghalaya emerged as India’s cleanest city with a PM2.5 concentration of just 10 µg/m³—more than 12 times cleaner than Dharuhera.
The top 10 cleanest cities included four from Karnataka, three from Tamil Nadu, and one each from Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Chhattisgarh, highlighting how southern and northeastern India maintain significantly better air quality.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, out of 249 monitored cities, 212 recorded PM2.5 levels below India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 60 µg/m³, but only six cities met the World Health Organization’s daily safe guideline of 15 µg/m³.
Why October Was Particularly Brutal
The number of cities with ‘Good’ air quality dropped dramatically from 179 in September to just 68 in October, while those in the ‘Satisfactory’ range rose from 52 to 144. This sharp deterioration reflects the onset of winter conditions that trap pollutants closer to ground level, combined with increased emissions from various sources.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implements the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) during such periods, but experts argue that short-term measures can’t address the fundamental, year-round pollution sources.
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The Health Crisis Nobody Can Ignore
Living in these cities means breathing air equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes daily. Children, elderly individuals, and those with respiratory conditions face the highest risks. Long-term exposure to such PM2.5 levels increases risks of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
The economic cost is staggering too—lost productivity, healthcare expenses, and reduced quality of life translate to billions in economic losses annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why did Delhi rank only 6th when it’s always in pollution headlines?
While Delhi receives maximum media attention due to its status as the national capital, several smaller NCR towns actually have worse air quality. Dharuhera topped the list with 123 µg/m³, compared to Delhi’s 107 µg/m³. Cities like Ghaziabad, Noida, and Rohtak face similar or worse pollution but receive less coverage. Delhi’s extensive monitoring infrastructure and vocal public discourse make its pollution more visible, while surrounding NCR towns suffer quietly. The entire NCR region shares interconnected pollution sources—what affects Delhi impacts neighboring cities, and vice versa. The key takeaway? The pollution crisis isn’t limited to Delhi; it’s a regional catastrophe affecting millions across multiple states.
Q2: If stubble burning contributes less than 6% to pollution, what are the main culprits?
Despite stubble burning contributing less than 6% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in October, the pollution tripled from September, indicating year-round sources are the primary problem. The major contributors include vehicular emissions from millions of cars, trucks, and two-wheelers; construction and demolition activities generating massive dust clouds; industrial emissions from factories in and around NCR; waste burning in open areas and landfills; road dust resuspension; and diesel generators. The stubble burning narrative, while politically convenient, diverts attention from these persistent, controllable pollution sources that operate 365 days a year. Real improvement requires addressing these fundamental emission sources through better public transport, stricter industrial regulations, construction dust control, and waste management—not just seasonal emergency measures.
