A national shame: Poor air quality needs concerted government action

India is in the midst of an air quality crisis that extends beyond just the National Capital Region

In data released last week by the World Health Organisation (WHO), detailing its comparison of air pollution levels in various cities across the world in 2016, Indian cities and towns fared particularly badly. That is, in fact, an understatement. According to the WHO, 14 of the 15 most polluted global cities are in India. The national capital, Delhi — known for struggling with its air pollution levels — is ranked sixth on the list. Five Indian cities are more polluted: The Delhi suburb of Faridabad; Bihar’s capital city of Patna as well as its second-largest city, Gaya; and two of