Bengaluru Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Karnataka, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Bangalore AQI Right Now

105

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 44.88 µg/m³

PM10: 106.02 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Bangalore Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.544.88 µg/m³
PM10106.02 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)36.57 µg/m³
NO₂24.49 µg/m³
SO₂3.65 µg/m³
CO605.15 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Bangalore

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Bangalore

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.23 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Bangalore

  • General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
  • Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Bangalore Air Quality

Bengaluru (Bangalore), India's tech capital, has seen a steady deterioration in air quality over the past decade driven primarily by explosive growth in vehicle ownership and construction activity. Despite its elevation of 920 metres on the Deccan Plateau - which provides better natural ventilation than plains cities - PM2.5 levels regularly exceed WHO guidelines, particularly during the dry winter months.

The worst air quality occurs from December through March, when rainfall is minimal, construction activity peaks, and biomass burning in surrounding agricultural areas adds to the pollution load. PM2.5 concentrations during this period average 60–90 µg/m³, with spikes above 150 µg/m³ during traffic rush hours on arterial roads like the Outer Ring Road and Bellary Road. Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion - with average commute speeds below 20 km/h - means vehicles idle for extended periods, amplifying per-km emissions.

Persistent landfill fires at Mandur and Bellahalli have historically caused acute PM10 spikes in the city's eastern suburbs. Industrial zones in Peenya (north) and Bommasandra-Jigani (south) add VOCs and SO2. The monsoon season (June–September) brings relief through rainfall washout, but post-monsoon stubble burning in northern Karnataka can briefly elevate readings. The KSPCB has pushed BS-VI fuel adoption and construction site dust controls, though enforcement remains inconsistent.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Waste burning (landfill fires)
  • Industrial emissions (Peenya, Bommasandra)

Geography: Deccan Plateau at ~920 m elevation; moderate climate with good wind dispersal, but rapid urbanisation and traffic congestion worsen air quality

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Bangalore

What causes air pollution in Bangalore?

Bengaluru's primary pollution sources are vehicular exhaust (over 10 million registered vehicles, severe traffic congestion), construction dust from metro, road, and building projects, road dust from unpaved stretches, waste burning at landfills (Mandur, Bellahalli), and industrial emissions from Peenya and Bommasandra zones.

When is the best air quality in Bangalore?

June through September during the monsoon season offers the cleanest air, with AQI typically in the Good to Satisfactory range (NAQI 25–80). The combination of rainfall and cloud cover suppresses dust and washes out particulates.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities