India Now Rejects World Air Pollution Rankings, Sets Its Own Path

NEW DELHI- Global air quality rankings cited by various organizations are not conducted by any official authority, the government informed the Parliament on December 11.

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