While Delhi often dominates headlines for its air quality woes, Ghaziabad has emerged as the most polluted city in India for November 2025, according to a report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The city recorded a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 224 micrograms per cubic metre, exceeding national air quality standards on all 30 days of the month.

Ghaziabad Leads Pollution Charts

Ghaziabad’s air pollution levels were significantly higher than the national safe limits, consistently remaining in the “very poor” to “severe” category throughout November. This highlights the city’s chronic struggle with fine particulate matter, which is known to have severe health impacts, particularly on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Other Highly Polluted Cities

The CREA report also listed other cities in the top 10 most polluted for November 2025. These include Noida, Bahadurgarh, Delhi, Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut, and Rohtak. Uttar Pradesh accounted for six cities, Haryana for three, and Delhi for one. Interestingly, most cities on the list—except Delhi—recorded higher PM2.5 levels than the previous year, suggesting worsening pollution trends in these regions.

Delhi, despite being a frequent focus of air pollution coverage, ranked fourth with a monthly average of 215 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly double its October average of 107. During November, the capital experienced 23 “very poor” days, six “severe” days, and only one “poor” day.

Stubble Burning Less Impactful This Year

The CREA report noted that stubble burning contributed less to Delhi’s pollution in November 2025 compared to last year. The average contribution was just 7%, down from 20% in November 2024, with the peak contribution reaching 22%, compared to 38% the previous year. This suggests that other sources, such as transport, industry, and power plants, are now the dominant contributors to air pollution in the NCR.

Year-Round Pollution Sources Dominate

According to Manoj Kumar, Analyst at CREA, the persistent high pollution levels indicate that year-round emission sources—including vehicular traffic, industrial activity, and power plants—are the main culprits. Kumar emphasized, “Without sector-specific emission cuts, cities will continue to breach standards.” This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategies to combat pollution beyond seasonal stubble burning interventions.

City-Specific Observations

• Bahadurgarh was the only city in the top 10 to record even a single day within the national air quality limits.
• Several NCR cities, including Charkhi Dadri, Bulandshahr, Jind, Muzaffarnagar, Gurgaon, Khurja, Bhiwani, Karnal, Yamunanagar, and Faridabad, reported PM2.5 levels above safe limits every day.

State-Wise Pollution Snapshot

At the state level, the CREA report highlighted widespread pollution across India:

• Rajasthan had the highest number of polluted cities, with 23 of 34 cities exceeding national limits in November.
• Haryana followed, with 22 of 25 cities above safe levels.
• Uttar Pradesh had 14 of 20 cities exceeding national standards.
• Other affected states included Madhya Pradesh (9 of 12), Odisha (9 of 14), and Punjab (7 of 8).

Cleanest City in India

In stark contrast, Shillong in Meghalaya emerged as the cleanest city in India, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of just 7 micrograms per cubic metre, demonstrating the vast disparity in air quality across the country.

Conclusion

The CREA report paints a concerning picture of air quality in the National Capital Region and across northern India. While Delhi often garners attention for pollution, cities like Ghaziabad, Noida, and Hapur are experiencing even more hazardous air quality, driven largely by industrial emissions, transport, and other year-round sources. Experts warn that without targeted, sector-specific interventions, the trend of poor air quality is likely to continue, posing serious health risks to millions of residents in the region.

Ghaziabad’s top ranking in November 2025 is a wake-up call for policymakers, highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated action to reduce pollution and protect public health.