As per fifth World Air Quality Report prepared by IQ Air based on the annual average level of pollutant PM2.5 in air in 2023, which of the following statement is correct?
I. A total of 39 Indian cities featured on the list of world’s 50 most polluted cities.
II. The national capital ‘New Delhi’ is in top 10 polluted city.
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Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Both I and II

Explanation:

As per the 5th World Air Quality Report (2023) prepared by IQAir, the findings are:

• Statement I is correct: A total of 39 Indian cities were featured in the list of the world’s 50 most polluted cities in terms of PM2.5 levels.
• Statement II is also correct: New Delhi has once again been ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world, and it retains its position as the world's most polluted capital city.

Hence, both statements I and II are correct.

Information Booster:

World Air Quality Report 2024 – Key Highlights

• Published by: Swiss organization
• IQAirCoverage: PM2.5 data from 8,954 cities across 138 countries/regions
• Purpose: Evaluates global and regional air pollution levels (based on PM2.5 concentrations)

India-Specific Findings:

• India Rank: 5th most polluted country in 2024 (was 3rd in 2023)
• Avg. PM2.5 concentration: 50.6 μg/m³ (10× WHO safe limit of 5 μg/m³)

Delhi:

• Remains the world’s most polluted capital city
• Avg. PM2.5: 91.8 μg/m³

Most Polluted Indian Cities (13 of top 20 globally):

• Byrnihat (Assam-Meghalaya border) – Most polluted city globally
• Others: Faridabad, Loni, Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Noida, Muzaffarnagar, Central Delhi

World Air Quality Report 2024 – Global Highlights

Top 5 Most Polluted Countries (Avg. PM2.5 Levels):

Global Concern:

• Only 12 countries/regions had PM2.5 levels below WHO’s safe limit of 5 µg/m³.
•  Majority of the world’s population is exposed to unhealthy air.