The pollution sources in India – and in most Asian countries – are numerous and incompletely understood. That’s why each country has to have it’s own AQI values. The National Air Quality Index Standard (NAQI) in India was launched on 17 September 2014. The initiative constitutes part of the Government’s mission to introduce the “culture of cleanliness”, as the air pollution has been a huge concern in the country.
Like everywhere in the world, AQI value varies on a daily bases and it depends on which city you are in. But even though India has its own AQI standards, they are ranked as one of the highest: according to the World Health Organization, 10 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India, and ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Delhi rank among the highest levels measured in any city in the world – about 15 times higher than WHO’s guideline concentrations. That’s why it is very important to understand the air quality around you.