Air quality continues to be a pressing issue in India, with cities like Delhi, Singrauli, and several in Haryana facing severe pollution challenges in 2024. The main pollutants, PM2.5 and PM10, surge due to vehicle emissions, stubble burning, and industrial activities, especially during winter and post-monsoon seasons. As of October 2024, the following are the top 10 states in India with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI):
| Rank | City | State | AQI Value | AQI Category | Prominent Pollutant |
| 1 | Delhi | Delhi | 310 | Very Poor | PM2.5, PM10 |
| 2 | Singrauli | Madhya Pradesh | 300 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 3 | Bhiwani | Haryana | 289 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 4 | Rohtak | Haryana | 283 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 5 | Jind | Haryana | 277 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 6 | Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh | 257 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 7 | Bahadurgarh | Haryana | 255 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 8 | Noida | Uttar Pradesh | 252 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 9 | Kaithal | Haryana | 239 | Poor | PM2.5 |
| 10 | Hajipur | Bihar | 236 | Poor | PM2.5 |
Delhi remains the city with the worst air quality, classified as "Very Poor" with an AQI of 310. The significant pollution levels in these areas are largely attributed to factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and seasonal crop-burning practices, particularly in northern states like Haryana and Punjab.
Seasonal patterns in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels across various states in India reveal significant fluctuations influenced by meteorological conditions and human activities. Here are the key observations regarding these seasonal variations:
Winter Season (December to February)
Temperature Inversions: Cold air traps pollutants near ground level, thus increasing particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM10.
Stubble Burning: Farming activities are significant contributors during this period, as farmers burn stubble of their crops.
More Heating: Burning of solid fuels for warming up in rural regions has further added to the particulate burden of the atmosphere.
Winter season accounts for approximately 43.59% of overall AQI readings over different seasons, and cities generally register AQI values highly compared to other seasons.
Post Monsoon season (October to November)
During this period post the monsoon season, the air quality deteriorates mainly due to:
Crop Residue Burning: This activity reaches its peak in October and November, leading to increased air pollution levels in the northern states.
Weather Conditions: The beginning of the cooler days with stagnant air worsens the accumulation of pollutants.
Episodic Events: Events like Diwali also contribute to the short-term spurt in pollution as it has been estimated that the fireworks themselves accounted for an estimated 142 Gg of NOx and 73 Gg of PM2.5 emissions above what normally would have happened.
Monsoon Season (June to September)
Generally, the monsoon season shows improvement in air quality:
Washout Effect: Rains flush away atmospheric suspended particulate matter, thereby reducing AQI values.
Suppression of Dust Storm: Rains suppress dust storms that would have exacerbated poor air quality during dry months.
Some studies find that AQI values can plummet steeply during this season compared to winter.
Summer Season (March to May)
Summer months can report mixed trends:
Dust Storms: The more arid region increased dust can cause increased pollution levels- more in April and May.
Heat Effects: A higher temperature is supposed to increase photochemical reactions, thus increasing ozone levels.
From the seasonal pattern, it has been observed that winter is always polluting at its peak levels in most states of India and monsoon season maintains lower or just above moderate levels of pollution, and hence, needs to be understood by implementing proper management in air quality.
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