India’s Air in Crisis

Why pollution is rising, who’s sounding the alarm, and what we can do now

Summary

Air pollution in India remains a major and growing public-health and economic problem in 2025. Recent analyses show very high PM 2.5 burdens, millions of pollution-related premature deaths in recent years, and repeated episodes of “very poor” to “hazardous” AQI in major cities through late 2025. Leading public-health experts and Indian scientists warn that fossil-fuel combustion, crop residue burning, dust and stagnant winter meteorology are combining to make early winter months especially dangerous. (Lancet Countdown)

1. What the latest data show (Dec 2025)

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) real-time dashboards and AQI bulletins continue to show large parts of India in the “poor” to “very poor” categories during early December 2025, with many monitoring stations recording PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ well above national standards. (Central Pollution Control Board)

• International air-quality trackers and analyses (IQAir, World Air Quality Index, energy & clean air dashboards) continue to rank multiple Indian cities among the world’s worst for PM₂.₅ on a real-time basis in 2025. (IQAir)

• Independent monthly snapshots and civil-society analyses (e.g., Energy & Clean Air, Centre for Science and Environment) reported persistent early-winter pollution spikes in November–December 2025 driven by meteorology (cool, calm air), local emissions, and seasonal sources. (CREA)

2. How big is the health burden?

Recent large studies and health assessments show the scale:

• The Lancet-Countdown / Lancet family of analyses and related data sheets for 2025 flag outdoor PM₂.₅ as a leading cause of premature mortality in India; country-level analyses estimate over a million premature deaths attributable to ambient fine particulate pollution in recent years (e.g., ~1.7 million deaths in 2022 reported in summary analyses), and very large economic costs from lost life and productivity. (Lancet Countdown)

• Multi-city epidemiological studies continue to show that short-term spikes in PM₂.₅ are associated with rises in daily mortality and hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory causes. These results reinforce the conclusion that both chronic exposure and acute episodes are deadly. (The Lancet)

Bottom line: the evidence base from peer-reviewed studies and major health reports in 2024–2025 indicates the crisis is not just seasonal discomfort — it is a major, ongoing contributor to mortality and chronic disease across India. (Lancet Countdown)

3. Why pollution is rising (key causes in 2025)

1. Fossil-fuel combustion (power plants, industry, transport) remains a large, persistent source of fine particles and precursor gases. (Lancet Countdown)

2. Household solid-fuel use in parts of India continues to add to PM₂.₅ exposure for millions. (Lancet Countdown)

3. Seasonal agricultural residue burning in parts of North India (Punjab/Haryana/Uttar Pradesh) emits large plumes that travel into the Indo-Gangetic Plain during cooler months. (cseindia.org)

4. Road and construction dust — exacerbated by dry conditions — contributes large shares of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ mass. (CREA)

5. Adverse winter meteorology (temperature inversion, low winds, fog/mist) traps pollutants and leads to high concentrations during November–January. (The Times of India)

4. Voices from India — scientists, doctors and analysts (what they say)

Below are prominent Indian experts and organizations who have been publicly quoted or authored analyses in 2024–2025. I list them here with their recent public pieces or quoted coverage so you can read their exact words:

• Anumita Roychowdhury — Executive Director (or senior analyst) at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). CSE has published timely analyses of the “toxic cocktail” of early-winter pollution in Delhi-NCR (Dec 2025). (cseindia.org)

• Dr. Randeep Guleria — Former Director, AIIMS New Delhi and prominent pulmonologist; has warned publicly (Nov 2025) about worsening air-quality effects on asthma, COPD and even previously healthy people. (The Economic Times)

• Researchers associated with the Lancet / Lancet Countdown — provide country data sheets and global analyses quantifying deaths and economic burdens from PM₂.₅ in India (2025 reports and data sheets). (The Lancet)

• Energy & Clean Air (analysis teams) — monthly ambient air quality snapshots and data pulls from CPCB CAAQMS are widely used to evaluate recent trends (Nov–Dec 2025 snapshots). (CREA)

• Local environmental scientists and meteorologists quoted in regional coverage (e.g., Prof. Venkatesh Dutta on Lucknow AQI deterioration; other local experts on Noida/Ghaziabad AQI trends). (The Times of India)

(In the Reference section below I include direct links to the specific articles, reports and dashboards where these experts’ statements and analyses appear.)

5. Health effects — what clinicians are seeing

• Short-term exposure: spikes in PM₂.₅ and other pollutants increase emergency visits for asthma attacks, COPD exacerbations, heart attacks, and strokes during pollution episodes. Clinicians report more breathlessness and worsening symptoms even in patients without prior lung disease when AQI is “very poor” or worse. (The Economic Times)

• Long-term exposure: chronic PM₂.₅ exposure is linked to higher lifetime risk of chronic respiratory disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, reduced lung growth in children, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Major public-health reports continue to emphasize the lifelong burden. (Lancet Countdown)

6. What the government and agencies are doing (and gaps)

• Regulatory frameworks: The CPCB continues to publish AQI bulletins and run the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and non-attainment city action plans; these provide city-level targets and measures, but implementation and enforcement remain uneven. (Central Pollution Control Board)

• City responses: steps such as odd-even schemes, construction bans, anti-smog guns and traffic restrictions are sometimes used during emergency episodes but are not always sustained or sufficient to cut year-round exposure. News reports from Dec 2025 point to recurring winter episodes despite prior measures. (The Times of India)

7. Practical guidance for citizens (evidence-based)

When AQI is “poor” to “hazardous” (check CPCB / IQAir in real time):

• Limit outdoor exposure — reduce strenuous outdoor exercise, especially for children, elderly, pregnant people, and those with heart/lung disease. (Central Pollution Control Board)

• Use N95 / N99 masks when you must be outdoors during high pollution episodes (proper fit matters). (IQAir)

• Indoor air — keep windows closed on very bad-AQI days, use room air purifiers with HEPA filters if available, avoid indoor smoking and frying at high temperatures. (Lancet Countdown)

• Health follow-up — people with chronic respiratory or cardiac conditions should keep medications ready and consult doctors early if symptoms worsen. Indian clinicians, including leading pulmonologists, emphasize early care. (The Economic Times)

8. How society can reduce the problem (policy priorities highlighted by experts)

Experts and health reports emphasize these priority areas repeatedly in 2025:

1. Accelerate clean energy transitions (power sector decarbonization and cleaner industrial fuel use). (Lancet Countdown)

2. Cleaner transport — stringent vehicle emission norms, faster electrification of vehicles, public-transport investments. (Lancet Countdown)

3. Tackle agricultural burning with alternatives, incentives and mechanized residue management. (cseindia.org)

4. Control dust and construction emissions through enforcement and dust-mitigation rules. (CREA)

5. Strengthen monitoring and public information (more CAAQMS monitors, transparent data). (Central Pollution Control Board)

9. Conclusion — a 2025 reality check

As of 9 December 2025, India faces a stubborn, large-scale air-pollution crisis driving immediate and long-term harms. The scientific and medical communities — from Lancet authors quantifying the toll to Indian clinicians like Dr. Randeep Guleria and analysts at CSE and Energy & Clean Air — are unanimous: the problem is solvable, but it requires faster, coordinated policy action, consistent enforcement and citizen engagement. (Lancet Countdown)

References & Further Reading (direct links)

Below are key sources, reports and news pieces referenced above (click to read):

1. CPCB — AQI report and bulletins (real-time dashboard & bulletins). Central Pollution Control Board (Government of India). (Central Pollution Control Board)

2. Lancet / Lancet-Countdown India data & 2025 data sheet — India country data & health impact discussion (2025). (Lancet Countdown)

3. IQAir — India Air Quality Alert / World Air Quality Ranking / country page (IQAir 2025 reporting). (IQAir)

4. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) — “Toxic cocktail of pollution during early winter in Delhi-NCR” (Dec 2025) — analysis by Anumita Roychowdhury & team. (cseindia.org)

5. Energy & Clean Air — India monthly ambient air quality snapshot (November 2025) — data and analysis. (CREA)

6. News coverage quoting clinicians and local experts (examples):

   • Dr Randeep Guleria on health impacts (Nov 2025). (The Economic Times)

   • Regional AQI reports (Noida/Ghaziabad/Lucknow) — Times of India coverage, early Dec 2025. (The Times of India)

7. Lancet articles on India air pollution / mortality burden (background and peer-reviewed findings). (The Lancet)

8. NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) and non-attainment city portal — CPCB / Ministry resources on policy actions. (prana.cpcb.gov.in)