Short answer. Check the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) National Air Quality Index page, which links to the live AQI and a daily AQI bulletin 1. India's AQI has six categories, from "Good" (0-50) to "Severe" (401-500) 2. City air is heavily polluted on average: fine particles are about nine times the WHO guideline 57. On very poor or severe days, CPCB asks people to minimise travel 4.
Where can I check air quality right now?
CPCB's National Air Quality Index page links to the Live Air Quality Index, live data from monitoring stations and the Daily AQI Bulletin (PDF) 1. The same page links to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), to continuous tracking of PM2.5 and PM10 "as per GRAP", and to Delhi-NCR air quality data and forecasts 1. Our India alerts page explains how other official warnings reach you.
What do the index levels mean?
The AQI turns several pollutants into a single number, a category and a colour 2. It covers eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3 and lead, and the worst sub-index sets the overall AQI 2. The categories 2 and CPCB's health statements 3:
| AQI | Category | Associated health impacts 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50 | Good | Minimal impact |
| 51-100 | Satisfactory | May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people |
| 101-200 | Moderately polluted | May cause breathing discomfort to people with lung disease such as asthma, and discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults |
| 201-300 | Poor | May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure, and discomfort to people with heart disease with short exposure |
| 301-400 | Very poor | May cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure; effect may be more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases |
| 401-500 | Severe | May cause respiratory effects even on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung or heart diseases; impacts may be felt even during light physical activity |
For PM2.5, "Good" goes up to a 24-hour average of 30 µg/m³ 2, above the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³ 7. See Air quality index explained.
How polluted is the air on average?
Heavily. The population-weighted median of Indian cities shows about 47 µg/m³ of PM2.5 (annual mean 2021-2023) 5, against a WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ 7. Nitrogen dioxide is about 19 µg/m³ 6, about twice the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ 7. That NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy road will be higher.
What should I do on a bad air day?
CPCB's public guidance is mostly about cutting emissions: during severe or very poor AQI, people should minimise travel, avoid private vehicles and use public transport, bikes, walking or carpooling instead 4. Phaenyx found no CPCB household advice on staying indoors or masks. For protecting your household:
- Sensitive people first: the health statements single out people with lung or heart disease, children and older adults from the "Moderately polluted" level 3. See Sensitive people and polluted air and Children and polluted air.
- Indoors: see A clean-air room at home and Masks for smoke and dust.
- Episodes, dust and smoke: see Pollution episodes, Dust storms, Wildfire smoke and Ozone days.
A household plan can list who in your home is sensitive to polluted air and which room to keep closed on bad days.
Frequently asked questions
Is India's AQI the same as the US AQI?
No. India's National AQI has its own six categories and breakpoints, and includes ammonia and lead 2.
At what AQI are healthy people affected?
At "Severe" (401-500), CPCB says the air may cause respiratory effects even on healthy people 3.
What is GRAP?
The Graded Response Action Plan. CPCB's AQI page links to it, next to its Delhi-NCR action plan pages, and to PM tracking "as per GRAP" 1.
Is PM2.5 in India above the WHO guideline?
Yes. The city median is about 47 µg/m³ per year 5, against 5 µg/m³ 7.
Sources
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — National Air Quality Index — https://cpcb.gov.in/National-Air-Quality-Index/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — About National Air Quality Index — https://cpcb.gov.in/upload/national-air-quality-index/About_AQI.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — National Air Quality Index (Control of Urban Pollution Series CUPS/82/2014-15) — https://cpcb.gov.in/upload/national-air-quality-index/FINAL-REPORT_AQI_.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — Broad guidelines for Public — https://cpcb.gov.in/upload/national-air-quality-index/Guidelines.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis — Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) — https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) — CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) — https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
- World Health Organization (WHO) — WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for India, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) · National Air Quality Index checked 2026-10-27
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) · About National Air Quality Index checked 2026-10-27
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) · National Air Quality Index (Control of Urban Pollution Series CUPS/82/2014-15) checked 2026-10-27
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) · Broad guidelines for Public checked 2026-10-27
- Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis · Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) checked 2026-10-27
- Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) · CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) checked 2026-10-27
- World Health Organization (WHO) · WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) checked 2026-10-27