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Global Air Rankings Not Official: Why India Sets Its Own Standards

The Indian government has clarified that widely cited global air quality rankings are not official. It emphasizes that India has its own National Ambient Air Quality Standards tailored to the country's specific conditions. Officials also pointed to significant improvements in Delhi's air quality in recent years. Notably, farm fire incidents in neighboring states have seen a dramatic decline this season.

Key Points: India Rejects Global Air Quality Rankings, Defends National Standards

  • Minister states global indices like IQAir and WHO database are not conducted by any official authority
  • India follows its own 2009 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 12 pollutants
  • Delhi's 'Good to Moderate' air quality days have significantly increased since 2016
  • Farm fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana have fallen by around 90% compared to 2022
2 min read

Global air quality rankings not official, India sets own standards: Govt

Govt says global air quality indices are not official, highlights India's own National Ambient Air Quality Standards and improvements in Delhi's AQI.

"The World Health Organisation's air quality guidelines serve only as guidance and are recommended values - MoS Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh"

New Delhi, Dec 11

Global air quality rankings cited by various organisations are not conducted by any official authority, the government informed the Parliament on Thursday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that the widely quoted international indices, such as IQAir World Air Quality Report, WHO Global Air Quality Database, Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) metrics, are not conducted by any official authority.

These serve only as advisory values, not binding standards.

"The World Health Organisation's air quality guidelines serve only as guidance and are recommended values to help countries achieve good air quality. However, countries prepare their own air quality standards based on geography, environmental factors, background levels, socio-economic status, and national circumstances," Singh said.

The Environment Ministry further clarified that it has notified National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 pollutants in 2009 to protect public health and the environment, and these standards are tailored to India's specific conditions.

While the World Health Organisation sharply tightened its air quality guidelines in 2021 (24-hour PM2.5 limit: 15 micrograms per cubic meter; annual: 5 micrograms per cubic meter), India continues to follow its 2009 NAAQS (24-hour PM2.5: 60 micrograms per cubic meter; annual: 40 micrograms per cubic meter), which the government maintains are appropriate for national conditions.

Separately, the Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted significant improvement in Delhi's air quality in recent years due to focused policy interventions.

He shared that the number of "Good to Moderate" air quality days (AQI less than or equal to 200) in Delhi has risen from 110 in 2016 to 200 in 2025 (till date).

Yadav added that the average AQI (January-November) has improved from 213 in 2018 to 187 in 2025, and not a single day in 2025 has recorded "Severe Plus" (AQI over 450) air quality in the national capital.

Notably, farm fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana together have fallen by around 90 per cent in the 2025 paddy harvesting season compared to 2022.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I understand the need for tailored standards, the gap between WHO's 5 µg/m³ and our 40 µg/m³ for annual PM2.5 is massive. My child has asthma and winters are a nightmare. Can we not aim for a more ambitious target? Improvement is good, but 'Moderate' air (AQI 200) is still not healthy air.
R
Rohit P
The 90% reduction in farm fires is HUGE news! This shows real on-ground action. Stubble burning was a major contributor. If this trend continues, next winter could be much better for North India. Kudos to the farmers and the authorities for finding workable solutions.
S
Sarah B
I'm an expat living in Delhi. The air quality is a constant topic among our group. While the rankings might be unofficial, the physical experience is very real. The reported improvement is encouraging, but the baseline is still so poor. Hope the national standards are tightened progressively as the situation improves.
K
Karthik V
Setting our own standards is the right of a sovereign nation. However, we must be transparent. Are these 2009 standards under review? Science has evolved since then. We can have 'Indian' standards that are also scientifically rigorous and protective. The goal should be clean air, not just better numbers than before.
M
Meera T
It's good to see data-driven claims. From 110 to 200 'Good to Moderate' days in Delhi is a solid achievement. This isn't just talk; there are numbers. The focus should now shift to tier-2 and tier-3 cities where pollution is rising rapidly. Our national policy must be inclusive

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