New Delhi: India’s air quality standards are determined based on localized factors rather than strictly following global guidelines, the Union environment ministry told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. While the World Health Organization (WHO) provides global air quality guidelines to assist countries in managing pollution levels, the Union ministry emphasized that national standards take into account geography, environmental conditions, socio-economic factors, background pollution levels, and other country-specific circumstances.

Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh was responding to a multipart question raised by CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan. The MP had asked about India’s global ranking in various air quality indices, including the IQAir World Air Quality Ranking, WHO Global Air Quality Database, Environmental Performance Index (EPI), and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) air-pollution metrics, along with the key parameters used by these indices and whether the ministry had reviewed India’s performance in such international rankings.

Singh clarified that while the WHO guidelines are globally recommended, India follows its own National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 key air pollutants, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). These standards aim to safeguard public health and environmental quality. The ministry also conducts the annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan, which ranks 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) based on implementation of air quality improvement measures. The top-performing cities are felicitated on National Swachh Vayu Diwas, observed every September 7. Singh noted, however, that there is no official global ranking of cities conducted by any Indian authority.

The minister’s remarks come amid renewed global attention to air quality following updates to WHO standards. In 2021, WHO lowered acceptable thresholds for several pollutants, particularly ultrafine PM2.5 particles, which India has historically struggled to control. Under the revised guidelines, the 24-hour exposure limit for PM2.5 is 15 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), down from 25 µg/m³, while the annual exposure limit is 5 µg/m³, down from 10 µg/m³. Similarly, for PM10 particles, the daily and annual limits were lowered to 45 µg/m³ and 15 µg/m³, respectively.

By comparison, India’s 2009 NAAQS thresholds remain significantly higher. The 24-hour PM2.5 limit is 60 µg/m³—four times the new WHO threshold—while the annual limit is 40 µg/m³, eight times the revised WHO guideline. These higher limits reflect the ministry’s approach of factoring in India’s unique geography, industrial profile, urbanization patterns, and socio-economic conditions in formulating national standards.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav also addressed Delhi’s air quality, noting measurable improvements in recent years due to targeted interventions. He highlighted that the number of “good” air quality days (when the AQI remains below 200) in Delhi increased to 200 days in 2025 from just 110 days in 2016. The average AQI for Delhi from January to November 2025 was recorded at 187, compared with 213 in 2018. Notably, Delhi has not recorded any “severe plus” days (AQI above 450) in 2025.

Yadav credited this improvement to coordinated efforts, including stricter enforcement against stubble burning in neighboring states. During the 2025 paddy harvesting season, Punjab and Haryana collectively recorded about a 90% reduction in fire incidents compared to the same period in 2022. These measures, combined with strengthened field-level implementation of air quality policies, have contributed to progressive improvement in Delhi-NCR’s air quality.

The ministry reiterated that India’s approach to air quality management emphasizes local conditions and pragmatic implementation rather than blindly following international guidelines. The NAAQS are periodically reviewed, and ongoing measures under NCAP aim to further reduce pollution across major urban centers, industrial clusters, and regions prone to seasonal air quality deterioration.

While WHO guidelines serve as a benchmark, India’s policymakers balance ambitious public health goals with economic and socio-environmental realities. National standards are designed to be achievable, enforceable, and contextually relevant, accounting for regional variations in climate, topography, industrial activity, and population density.

The government continues to stress that improving air quality is a multi-pronged challenge requiring cooperation across states, industries, and urban administrations. Initiatives under NCAP include promoting cleaner fuels, monitoring industrial emissions, implementing vehicle emission norms, enhancing public transport, and creating public awareness about pollution mitigation.

In his Rajya Sabha reply, Singh underscored the ministry’s commitment to continuously assessing and refining India’s air quality measures, while also engaging with international standards to guide policy improvements. While global benchmarks highlight the urgency of pollution control, the ministry maintains that national standards and policies must remain practical and tailored to India’s specific circumstances.