Indian Cities Continue to Lead in Air Pollution
March 11, 2025, 11:06 am

Indian Cities Continue to Lead in Air Pollution

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Despite some improvements, Indian cities still hold the top position globally on the list of the most polluted cities by fine particulate matter, according to a report from Swiss company IQAir published on Tuesday.

The list also includes some areas in Pakistan and the capital of Chad, N'Djamena. Data showed that levels of fine particulate matter, specifically "PM2.5," which have diameters of less than 2.5 microns, reached an average of 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter in India, which is more than double the level recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the report prepared with support from Greenpeace.

Compared to 2023, pollution levels decreased by 7%, but 14 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world from these harmful particles are located in India. Emissions from factories and vehicles, along with agricultural fires and waste burning, are the main sources of these particles.

N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, ranked seventh, and New Delhi ranked ninth, are among the most polluted capitals, surpassing Dhaka, Kinshasa, and Islamabad.

The report relied on data from over 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 8,954 locations across 138 countries and regions, with public institutions managing a third of these stations, while the report does not depend on data from satellites or digital models.

Chad, which was not included in last year's report, is the most polluted this year with an average of 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter, due to the influence of the Bodélé Desert, a major source of dust. It is followed by Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India in the ranking of the most polluted countries.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”