Indore Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Indore AQI Right Now

79

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 40.13 µg/m³

PM10: 78.5 µg/m³

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

Indore Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.540.13 µg/m³
PM1078.5 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)4.59 µg/m³
NO₂17.59 µg/m³
SO₂4.16 µg/m³
CO566.65 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Indore

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Indore

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.8 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.2 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Indore

  • General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
  • Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Indore Air Quality

Indore, India's cleanest city by Swachh Bharat rankings for multiple consecutive years, presents an interesting paradox: while its solid waste management is exemplary, its ambient air quality still faces challenges from vehicular growth and industrial emissions. Situated on the Malwa Plateau at 550 metres elevation, the city benefits from moderate wind dispersal but winter inversions still cause periodic pollution accumulation.

November through February sees the worst air quality, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 80–130 µg/m³ during December and January. The Pithampur industrial area - one of central India's largest manufacturing hubs with auto, pharma, and chemical units - contributes baseline emissions, though its distance from the city center (35 km) limits direct impact. Closer industrial zones along Sanwer Road and the ring road corridor see higher localised pollution.

Indore's rapid horizontal sprawl and growing vehicle fleet (over 3 million registered vehicles in 2024) make vehicular exhaust the dominant pollution source. The city's success in waste management has significantly reduced biomass and waste burning compared to other Indian cities of similar size, giving it a notable advantage in PM10 control. The monsoon (June–September) brings clean air, and Indore's plateau location gives it generally better annual air quality than comparable cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Industrial emissions (Pithampur, Sanwer Road)
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Waste processing

Geography: Malwa Plateau at ~550 m elevation; semi-arid climate with relatively good wind dispersal; India's cleanest city by solid waste management

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Indore

Is Indore really India's cleanest city?

Indore has won India's cleanest city title (Swachh Survekshan) for solid waste management multiple years running. However, "cleanest" refers to sanitation and waste handling, not ambient air quality. Indore's air quality during winter months can still reach Poor levels (NAQI 200+), though it fares better than many north Indian cities due to less waste burning and its elevated plateau location.

What causes air pollution in Indore?

Indore's pollution comes primarily from vehicular exhaust (3+ million registered vehicles), industrial emissions from the Pithampur manufacturing hub and local industrial zones, construction dust from urban expansion, and road dust. Unlike many Indian cities, waste burning is minimal due to effective solid waste management.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities