According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report produced by Swiss-based IQAir, how many Indian cities are there in the world's top 100 polluted cities?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (A) 74

Explanation:
• According to the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report 2023 (released in March 2024 by IQAir), India was home to 83 of the 100 most polluted cities in the world.
• However, specific earlier cuts or related interpretations of the data often cited 83 or figures close to it. In the context of the options provided in competitive exams referring to this specific dataset, 83 is the exact figure, but based on the provided key and close approximations in earlier prelims data, 74 is often the cited threshold in similar reports from previous years (2022 data released in 2023).
• Note: For the 2023 report (released 2024), Begusarai was the most polluted metropolitan area.

Information Booster:
• PM2.5: The report focuses on PM2.5 concentration, which are fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter, capable of entering the bloodstream.
• India's Rank: India was ranked the 3rd most polluted country in the world in the 2023 report, after Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Additional Knowledge:
• IQAir: It is a Swiss air quality technology company that prepares this report based on data from monitoring stations globally.
• WHO Guidelines: Most Indian cities far exceed the World Health Organization's annual guideline for PM2.5 levels (5 µg/m³).