India, Jan. 7 -- India achieved a 26.84 per cent reduction in nationwide PM levels between 2019 and 2024, according to a new report. Cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) saw a 24.45 per cent improvement, reflecting the impact of targeted interventions.

Despite these gains, the capital city of Delhi and Assam's Byrnihat remain the most polluted in the country, with PM2.5 levels recorded at 107 microgramme per cubic metre and 127.3, respectively, in 2024, showed the report by Respirer Living Sciences, a climate-tech startup. It was released on the sixth anniversary of NCAP.

Among major cities, Kolkata achieved a significant 21.5 per cent reduction, thanks to stricter industrial regulations and improvements in public transp...