Delhi has ranked ahead of Srinagar and Bengaluru in the Centre’s Clean Air Survey 2026. Among cities with a population of more than 1 million, Delhi ranked 21st, while Srinagar stood 26th and Bengaluru 32nd.
According to the results released by the ministry on Monday, Lucknow topped the list with 198 points, followed by Indore and Jabalpur, which scored 195 points each.
The ranking is not based only on air quality. The Union Environment Ministry also considers efforts to control pollution and how effectively these measures are being implemented.
Mumbai ranked 28th
Mumbai ranked 28th with 160.8 points, while Chennai stood 35th with 147.7 points and Kolkata 38th with 142.2 points. Hyderabad ranked ahead of Delhi in 19th place. Bhopal and Agra shared fourth place with 192 points each.
What was the ranking based on?
The Clean Air Survey was conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of the Union Environment Ministry. It assessed measures such as road dust control, solid waste management, pollution control from vehicles and industries, construction waste management and public awareness.
Cities first carried out their own assessments. These were then approved by state-level monitoring committees. The Central Pollution Control Board conducted the assessment, while an independent panel carried out inspections on the ground.
Pollution situation in Delhi
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) often crosses 400 during winter. This falls in the ‘severe’ category, and the AQI can sometimes rise above 450.
Delhi’s ranking may therefore seem surprising, as the capital remains one of India’s most polluted urban areas.
According to the government, 2025 was Delhi’s best year for pollution levels since 2018, excluding 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions affected pollution levels. Despite this, Delhi’s annual average PM10 concentration was 198 micrograms per cubic metre, while PM2.5 stood at 97 micrograms per cubic metre.
