Gwalior Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Madhya Pradesh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Gwalior AQI Right Now
Category: Moderate
Dominant Pollutant: pm10
PM2.5: 38.31 µg/m³
PM10: 103.48 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Gwalior Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 38.31 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 103.48 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 62.48 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 24.03 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 4.88 µg/m³ |
| CO | 285.57 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Gwalior
Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.
Health Impact — Gwalior
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.18 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Gwalior
- 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 Gwalior Air Quality
Gwalior, the historic fortress city of Madhya Pradesh, sits at the transition zone between the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the central Indian plateau. This geographic position exposes it to winter pollution patterns similar to northern plains cities, making it one of the more polluted cities in central India. PM2.5 readings during November and December regularly exceed 180 µg/m³.
The city's pollution profile combines vehicular exhaust from the busy Agra-Mumbai highway corridor, industrial emissions from the Malanpur industrial area (35 km south), stone quarrying in the surrounding Chambal ravine terrain, and brick kilns in periurban areas. The historic walled city area around Gwalior Fort experiences elevated pollution due to dense traffic in narrow streets and the fort plateau creating wind shadow zones that trap emissions.
Summer months (April–June) see elevated PM10 from dust storms originating in Rajasthan and the Chambal badlands. The monsoon (July–September) brings relief, though Gwalior receives relatively moderate rainfall (800 mm) compared to eastern MP. The MP Pollution Control Board monitors the city but enforcement on smaller emitters - brick kilns, stone crushers, and small industrial units - remains limited.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Vehicle exhaust
- Industrial emissions (Malanpur industrial area)
- Construction dust
- Road dust
- Brick kilns
- Stone quarrying
Geography: Northern MP at ~200 m elevation on the edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain; Gwalior Fort plateau creates localised wind effects, semi-arid climate
Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January
Frequently Asked Questions — Gwalior
Why is Gwalior one of MP's most polluted cities?
Gwalior's position at the edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain gives it winter inversions more typical of UP than central India. Combined with vehicular congestion, Malanpur industrial emissions, prolific brick kilns, and Chambal region dust, it records PM2.5 levels 30–50% higher than Bhopal or Indore despite being a smaller city.
What is the most polluted month in Gwalior?
November and December are worst, with PM2.5 regularly exceeding 180 µg/m³. The onset of winter inversions and calm winds coincides with peak brick kiln activity and post-harvest stubble burning in the agricultural belt between Gwalior and Agra.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Morena AQI — Madhya Pradesh
- Datia AQI — Madhya Pradesh
- Bhind AQI — Madhya Pradesh
- Jhansi AQI — Uttar Pradesh
- Shivpuri AQI — Madhya Pradesh
- Etawah AQI — Uttar Pradesh