With 13 of 20 most polluted cities, India ranks 5th globally

India ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide in 2024, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area globally. High pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions. Despite some improvement, Delhi remains the most polluted capital, and India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines.Original Article