New Delhi: The Union government on Thursday clarified in Parliament that global air quality rankings frequently cited by organisations and media outlets are not conducted or endorsed by any official authority. The statement was made in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, who said such indices should be treated only as advisory references, not binding standards.

Global indices only advisory, not official

Responding to queries on international air quality comparisons, Singh noted that reports and rankings issued by bodies such as the IQAir World Air Quality Report, WHO Global Air Quality Database, Environmental Performance Index (EPI) and Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies are not official assessments mandated by any government authority.

“These serve only as advisory values,” he stated, clarifying that countries are expected to frame their own standards based on local conditions.
He added that WHO air quality guidelines are only recommended values meant to help countries work towards better air quality.

“Countries prepare their own air quality standards based on geography, environmental factors, background levels, socio-economic status and national circumstances,” Singh said.

India relies on national standards tailored to local needs

The Environment Ministry highlighted that India follows its own National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), notified in 2009, covering 12 key pollutants. These standards were framed keeping in mind India’s environmental and socio-economic realities.

While WHO revised its guidelines in 2021 to much stricter limits—PM2.5 at 15 micrograms per cubic metre for 24 hours, and 5 micrograms per cubic metre annually—India continues with its 2009 limits of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (24-hour) and 40 micrograms per cubic metre (annual).
The government maintains that these limits are appropriate for the country’s current context.

Delhi’s air quality improving, says Centre

Separately, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav informed the Upper House that Delhi has recorded significant improvement in air quality over recent years due to targeted policy actions.

According to the minister:

  • “Good to Moderate” air quality days (AQI ≤ 200) have increased from 110 days in 2016 to 200 days in 2025 (till date).
  • Delhi’s average AQI (January–November) has improved from 213 in 2018 to 187 in 2025.
  • No “Severe Plus” (AQI > 450) days have been recorded in Delhi in 2025 so far.

Yadav also highlighted a sharp reduction in crop residue burning: farm fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana have reduced by nearly 90% in the 2025 paddy harvesting season compared to 2022, a key factor in reducing winter air pollution in the National Capital Region.

Conclusion

The government’s clarification underscores that while global indices offer useful benchmarks, they do not replace national parameters tailored to Indian conditions. Simultaneously, the Centre maintains that long-term interventions—from stubble burning mitigation to industrial regulation—are helping improve air quality, particularly in Delhi. The emphasis, officials say, will remain on strengthening India-specific standards while working towards cleaner air nationwide.