India Establishes Impartial Air High quality Requirements, Authorities Informs Parliament

The federal government on Thursday (December 11, 2025) instructed the Parliament that international air high quality rankings cited by varied organisations usually are not performed by any official authority and that the World Well being Organisation’s (WHO) air high quality tips serve solely as advisory values, not binding requirements.

Responding to a query within the Rajya Sabha on India’s place in international indices reminiscent of IQAir’s World Air High quality Rating, the WHO World Air High quality Database, the Environmental Efficiency Index (EPI) and the World Burden of Illness (GBD) metrics, the Atmosphere Ministry mentioned no official country-wise air pollution rating is carried out worldwide.

Minister of State for Atmosphere Kirti Vardhan Singh mentioned the WHO’s tips are supposed to assist nations set their very own requirements, considering geography, environmental circumstances, background ranges and nationwide circumstances.

He mentioned India has already notified its Nationwide Ambient Air High quality Requirements (NAAQS) for 12 pollution to guard public well being and environmental high quality.

The Minister additionally clarified that whereas no international authority ranks nations formally, it conducts its personal annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan to evaluate and rank 130 cities coated below the Nationwide Clear Air Programme (NCAP) on the idea of air high quality enchancment measures.

Higher-performing cities are felicitated yearly on Nationwide Swachh Vayu Diwas on September 7.