Core Context
• A study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that 60% of India’s districts (447 of 749) experience unsafe PM2.5 levels throughout the year, not just in winter.
Most Important Findings
• Not a single district meets WHO PM2.5 guideline (5 µg/m³).
• 447 districts exceed India’s own NAAQS annual limit (40 µg/m³).
• Winter (Dec–Feb) worst season: 82% districts (616/749) breach standards.
• Monsoon (June–Sept) best season: 90% districts within safe limits.
Most Polluted Clusters
• Delhi (11 districts) + Assam (11 districts) → nearly half of top 50 polluted districts.
• Other high-pollution clusters:
• Bihar & Haryana (7 each)
• Uttar Pradesh (4)
• Tripura (3)
• Rajasthan (2)
• West Bengal (2)
