Several major cities in India have recorded improvements in air quality as government clean-air programs delivered measurable declines in pollution levels, with Mumbai and Kolkata emerging among the cities that posted some of the biggest gains.
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported that 103 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) recorded reductions in PM10 levels, or tiny pollution particles that can affect human health, in fiscal year 2024–2025 compared with the 2017–2018 baseline. Among major cities, Mumbai recorded a 44% reduction in PM10 levels, while Kolkata recorded a 37% reduction over the same period. Delhi and Chennai also posted improvements, with PM10 levels declining by 15% and 12%, respectively.
The progress came after cities implemented measures under NCAP, a nationwide initiative launched in 2019 to address major sources of pollution, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, road dust, and waste burning. The program covers 130 cities identified as exceeding national air-quality standards, requiring local governments to create pollution-control plans, expand monitoring systems, and introduce measures to improve air quality.
Other cities recognized for their clean-air efforts included Indore, Jabalpur, Agra, and Surat, which ranked among the top-performing cities in India’s 2025 clean-air assessment. Government data also showed that 64 cities achieved more than 20% reductions in PM10 levels, while 25 cities recorded reductions of more than 40% compared with the 2017–2018 baseline.
The improvements mark progress in India’s efforts to address urban air pollution, although several cities continue to experience unhealthy air conditions, particularly during winter months when weather patterns can trap pollutants and worsen air quality.
