• The data shows that 140 localities were listed on the daily list of the most polluting cities from January to June. 

• 51 of these cities showed up at least ten times during the six months.

• Assam/Meghalaya's Byrnihat was found to be the most polluted city in India in July 2024, with an average monthly PM2.5 concentration of 90 µg/m³, exceeding the daily National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

• Of India's ten most polluted cities, two were found in Bihar and Haryana, three were in Rajasthan, and one in Punjab, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh.

• In July 2024, the daily list of the top 10 most polluted cities included 61 cities; only 20 are included in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). 

• There is no action plan for the remaining 41 to lower dangerously high levels of air pollution.

• CREA's monitoring of India's air quality, exemplified by such a devastating ranking, underscores the urgent need for effective pollution control to safeguard public health.

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