Clean-air ranking 2026: Delhi ranks ahead of Bengaluru, Srinagar in clean-air survey despite toxic smog
Delhi ranked 21st in India's Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, above Bengaluru and Srinagar, despite severe winter smog. Lucknow topped the clean-air survey, which rates pollution-control action, not just air quality. Delhi's PM2.5 still exceeds national limits.
Delhi has topped India's clean-air ranking for 2026, despite being notorious for toxic smog and high air pollution levels. The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 survey, conducted by the Union Environment Ministry, placed the capital at 21st among cities with populations over 10 lakh. Bengaluru and Srinagar ranked 26th and 32nd, respectively.
Lucknow led the ranking, scoring 198 points, followed by Indore with 195 points. The ranking considers both air quality levels and the steps cities have taken to control and reduce pollution. Delhi's ranking may seem surprising given its ongoing status as one of India's most polluted cities. The city's annual average PM10 concentration is 198 micrograms per cubic metre, and PM2.5 averages 97 micrograms per cubic metre, both exceeding India's annual permissible standards.
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