Shillong Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Shillong AQI Right Now

76

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 8.12 µg/m³

PM10: 75.06 µg/m³

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

Shillong Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.58.12 µg/m³
PM1075.06 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)11.13 µg/m³
NO₂6.95 µg/m³
SO₂3.16 µg/m³
CO1577.51 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Shillong

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Shillong

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.4 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Health Recommendations for Shillong

  • 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 Shillong Air Quality

Shillong, often called the "Scotland of the East," enjoys some of India's cleanest air thanks to its elevation at approximately 1,500 metres on the Shillong Plateau, abundant pine and oak forest cover, and exceptional rainfall exceeding 2,500 mm annually. The East Khasi Hills setting provides excellent natural ventilation and green filtration, making Shillong one of India's least polluted state capitals by annual average AQI. However, the city contends with localised challenges that distinguish it from its otherwise pristine reputation.

The dry months (December–March) see marginally elevated pollution levels, though even peak readings typically remain in the Good to Satisfactory range (NAQI 50–100). Vehicle congestion in the narrow bazaar areas - Police Bazar, Bara Bazar, and Laitumkhrah - creates localised exhaust hotspots, exacerbated by steep gradients that require vehicles to operate in lower gears. Coal mining dust from the Jaintia Hills (approximately 60 km east) occasionally contributes to regional haze, as unregulated rat-hole mining operations generate significant particulate matter that can drift westward during certain wind conditions.

The southwest monsoon (June–September) delivers torrential rainfall that keeps Shillong's air exceptionally clean, with AQI consistently in the Good range. The pine and oak forests covering the surrounding plateau act as natural biofilters year-round. Shillong's main air quality challenge going forward is managing vehicular growth in its constrained colonial-era road network and ensuring that coal mining's regional impact doesn't compromise the plateau's atmospheric quality. The contrast between Shillong's clean ambient air and nearby Jaintia mining areas is one of Northeast India's most striking environmental juxtapositions.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Coal mining dust (Jaintia Hills)
  • Domestic heating
  • Waste burning

Geography: East Khasi Hills at ~1,500m elevation; Scotland of the East, pine-forested plateau, high rainfall but Jaintia coal mining nearby

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Shillong

What is the most polluted month in Shillong?

January and February see the highest pollution levels, though AQI typically remains in the Good to Satisfactory range (NAQI 50–100) - among the lowest in India. The dry post-monsoon period reduces rainfall-based cleansing, and localised vehicle congestion in the bazaar area contributes to moderately elevated PM levels in central Shillong.

What causes air pollution in Shillong?

Shillong's minimal pollution comes from vehicle congestion in the narrow bazaar areas (Police Bazar, Bara Bazar), construction dust, domestic heating during cool winter months, and regional haze from coal mining operations in the Jaintia Hills. The city's excellent baseline air quality - among India's best - is maintained by 2,500+ mm annual rainfall, pine-oak forest cover, and 1,500m plateau elevation.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities