Ghaziabad Tops List of Most Polluted Indian Cities in Winter 2025-26: CREA Report

An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found Ghaziabad to be India's most polluted city during the 2025-26 winter, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 172 μg/m3, followed by Noida and Delhi. Out of 238 cities monitored, 204 exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Haryana had the highest number of cities breaching the standard. The report highlights widespread air pollution across multiple states, with only a few cities meeting air quality norms.