ISLAMABAD: The Indian environment minister’s clarification in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) -- that widely cited global air-quality rankings are "not conducted by any official [Indian] authority" -- drew a sarcastic reaction from the Indian National Congress, which mocked the remarks in a post on X.
India’s major cities, including the capital Delhi, are frequently rated among the most polluted in global air quality indices.
The Union government’s clarification in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on Thursday regarding global air-quality assessments sparked renewed discussion over how India evaluates its pollution levels.
Responding to questions from Communist Party of India MP V Sivadasan, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party stated that no official global country-wise air-pollution ranking exists, and that widely quoted international indices, including the IQAir World Air Quality Report, WHO Global Air Quality Database, Environmental Performance Index and Global Burden of Disease metrics, are “not conducted by any official authority.”
'Only as guidance'
Singh noted that the World Health Organization’s air-quality guidelines serve only as guidance, intended to help countries achieve better standards over time. He added that nations formulate their own air-quality benchmarks depending on geography, environmental factors, background levels, socio-economic conditions, and national circumstances.
India follows its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), notified in 2009, which specify limits for 12 pollutants; the ministry said that these are tailored to the country’s specific conditions.
The standards set the 24-hour permissible PM2.5 limit at 60 µg/m³, which is four times the WHO’s updated 2021 guideline.
Delhi’s air quality
Separately, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav presented data on Delhi’s air quality in response to another question.
According to the government, “Good to Moderate” air-quality days (AQI ≤200) in the capital have actually risen from 110 days in 2016 to 200 days in 2025 (to date).
The average AQI between January and November has improved from 213 in 2018 to 187 in 2025, and no day in 2025 has entered the “Severe Plus” category (AQI >450), the ministry said.
The ministry also reported that farm-fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana have fallen by around 90% in the 2025 paddy-harvesting season compared to 2022.
The government said that it conducts the annual Swachh Vayu Survekshan, ranking 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme based on the implementation of air-quality improvement measures.
Congress's reaction
The opposition quickly seized upon the government’s responses.
The Indian National Congress posted a sharp, sarcastic comment on X, mocking the minister’s dismissal of global rankings: “Our air is special kind of air. While other countries have only 20% Oxygen, we have 80% Oxygen and a little bit of Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide. Same with our GDP, Exchange rate, and so on. Perks of electing an 8th fail as PM.”
.jpg)
.jpg)
