A global agency, focused on air pollution, has pointed out in its latest update that over 8 out of every 10 cities in the country, despite the ongoing monsoon that substantially dilutes the concentration of air pollutants, have exceeded the air pollution levels prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO).
The list includes 75 cities, who are under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) scanner over years and have received substantial amount of fund for controlling air pollution. Only 16 out of the 91 NCAP cities assessed – there are 131 such cities overall – who were within the WHO specified guideline values for air pollution.
Monsoon is considered as the period when the air pollution is expected to reduce significantly as rainfall prods the settling down of the air pollutants.
According to its monthly ambient air quality snapshot for India for July by Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), two of the top polluted cities are from Bihar: Aurangabad, ranked as the most polluted city in India, followed by Manguraha.
CREA is an independent research center that started in Helsinki and works on a range of concerns — from health impacts to air pollution
Indian standards kinder
The cities however did not fare so badly according to Indian standards.
“In July 2026, 240 out of 256 cities with 80% and above days with continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) available data recorded PM2.5 concentrations below India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 60 µg/m³,” says a statement from CREA. “Forty-one cities complied with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) daily safe guideline concentration of 15 µg/m³,” it adds; meaning 84% of the cities did not comply.
The WHO daily limit for air pollution is 15 µg/m3, even as India’s NAAQS daily standard is 60 µg/m3.
Monsoons bring little relief
The monthly average PM2.5 levels in 75 out of 91 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities, however, with more than 80% of days with data) exceeded the WHO’s daily guideline. This despite July experiencing heavy rains across the country.
The pollution levels were as significant in non-NCAP cities: Among the 165 non-NCAP cities, with over 80% of days with CAAQMS data, “140 cities were seen to report a monthly average PM2.5 levels above the WHO daily guideline. Seventeen cities exceeded the daily NAAQS,” says the CREA release.
Highest number of polluted cities in Haryana
The pollution levels were spread across the country, but north India showed the highest spikes.
“Aurangabad in Bihar ranked as the most polluted city in India in July 2026, recording a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 168 µg/m³, surpassing the daily NAAQS limit of 60 µg/m³ for 21 days out of total 28 days of observation in the month,” says CREA. Manguraha in Bihar reported the second highest level of air pollution among Indian cities in July, with monthly average PM2.5 of 96 µg/m³.
Haryana had the highest number of cities with air pollution exceeding NAAQS, with 10 out of 25 recording PM2.5 higher than the permissible levels. Among these 25, one was in the ‘Good’, 14 were in the ‘Satisfactory’ category, and 10 were in the ‘Moderate’ category. Bihar had the second largest number of cities exceeding air NAAQS pollution levels: four out of 21 cities.
Dombivli, about 50 km from Mumbai, cleanest city
“Dombivli in Maharashtra was recorded as the cleanest city in India during July 2026, with a monthly average PM2.5 of 4 µg/m³, followed by Kunjemura in Chhattisgarh with a monthly average PM2.5 of 5 µg/m³,” says the CREA update.
The major Indian metros fared well, according to the Indian standards. “Delhi (39 µg/m³) , Chennai (24 µg/m³), Kolkata (23 µg/m³), Bangalore (20 µg/m³), and Mumbai (15 µg/m³), all recorded monthly average PM2.5 levels below the daily standard,” says CREA.
Monsoons have provided a breather for the metros, especially Delhi, which becomes unliveable during winter due to air pollution.