Knowing your city’s AQI can help you decide when to exercise outdoors, commute, open windows or take extra precautions on days when pollution levels are high. In India, residents can check the Air Quality Index online through CPCB platforms, the Sameer app and other air-quality services.
What is AQI and why does it matter?
AQI, or Air Quality Index, converts air pollution measurements into a single number and category that is easier for the public to understand. Instead of looking separately at different pollutants, people can use the AQI to get a quick indication of overall air quality.
The Central Pollution Control Board, or CPCB, publishes India’s National Air Quality Index and maintains air-quality monitoring resources for cities and monitoring stations across the country. Its system uses pollution measurements to communicate air quality through an index, category and associated health information.
This is particularly useful in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where pollution levels can vary significantly between locations. A citywide AQI gives a broad picture, but the reading from a nearby monitoring station can sometimes provide more useful local information.
AQI should also not be confused with the concentration of a single pollutant. A high PM2.5 reading, for example, is one part of the air-quality picture. The overall AQI communicates the combined assessment under the national system.
How to check your city’s AQI on the CPCB website
The CPCB website is one of the most useful official sources for checking air quality in India. Its air-quality section provides access to real-time air-quality data, the National Air Quality Index and daily AQI bulletins.
To check your city:
- Visit the official CPCB website.
- Look for the air-quality or real-time air-quality section.
- Select your state or city where the relevant data is available.
- Check the AQI value and category.
- Look at the monitoring station information when available.
- Check the individual pollutant readings for additional context.
The CPCB also publishes a daily AQI bulletin. These bulletins can contain city-level information and health statements linked to different AQI categories. CPCB notes that where a city has multiple monitoring locations, a city average may be used in its bulletin, while air quality can still vary between individual locations.
That distinction matters. Someone living close to a busy road, industrial area or construction zone may experience different local conditions from the overall city average.
How to check AQI using the Sameer app
Another official option is the Sameer app developed by CPCB. The app was designed to provide National Air Quality Index information and offers hourly AQI updates. It is available for Android and iOS users, according to CPCB information.
The app can be useful for people who want to check pollution levels from their phone rather than visiting a website.
After installing the app, users can look up the air-quality information for their location or relevant monitoring area. Depending on the available monitoring network, the information can include AQI and pollutant-specific readings.
Sameer also has a public complaint feature. CPCB documents state that users can submit air-pollution complaints and photographs through the platform, with location information used to help route complaints to relevant agencies.
For everyday users, the main advantage is convenience. You can check the latest available AQI before leaving home rather than relying on how clear or hazy the sky appears.
What do AQI numbers from 0 to 500 mean?
India’s National AQI uses six broad categories. Each range indicates a different level of air pollution and potential health impact.
| AQI | Category | What it generally indicates |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50 | Good | Minimal impact |
| 51-100 | Satisfactory | Minor breathing discomfort for sensitive people |
| 101-200 | Moderate | Breathing discomfort, particularly for people with lung or heart conditions |
| 201-300 | Poor | Breathing discomfort for people on prolonged exposure |
| 301-400 | Very Poor | Risk of respiratory illness with prolonged exposure |
| 401-500 | Severe | Can affect healthy people and seriously affect people with existing diseases |
These health statements are based on CPCB’s published AQI categories.
A common mistake is to assume that an AQI of 100 means the air is exactly twice as polluted as an AQI of 50. AQI is an index rather than a simple linear measurement of total pollution. The category and the pollutants contributing to the reading are important when interpreting the number.
Which pollutants are measured for AQI?
Air quality is influenced by several pollutants, and CPCB’s AQI framework considers pollutants such as particulate matter and gases. The National AQI documentation identifies PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia and lead among the pollutants that can be considered within the framework, subject to monitoring and data availability.
PM2.5 is particularly important because these are very small particles that can remain suspended in the air and penetrate deep into the respiratory system.
PM10 refers to larger inhalable particulate matter. Sources can include road dust, construction activity and other combustion or mechanical processes.
Nitrogen dioxide can be associated with combustion sources, including vehicle emissions. Carbon monoxide is another combustion-related pollutant, while ozone at ground level can form through atmospheric chemical reactions involving precursor pollutants.
When checking AQI online, do not look only at the headline number. Check which pollutant is contributing most to the reading when that information is available.
Why can AQI differ across the same city?
AQI can change from one part of a city to another. This is especially relevant in larger Tier-2 cities where traffic, industrial activity, construction, open spaces and residential areas may have different pollution patterns.
For example, a monitoring station near a busy traffic corridor may record different conditions from one located in a relatively less congested area. Weather conditions can also influence how pollutants disperse or accumulate.
CPCB itself cautions in its AQI bulletin that air quality can vary across monitoring locations even though a city-level average may be used for simplicity.
This is why residents should ideally check the nearest available monitoring station instead of assuming that one citywide number describes every neighbourhood equally.
How often should you check your city’s AQI?
There is no single rule for everyone. People who spend substantial time outdoors may find it useful to check AQI before exercising, travelling or planning outdoor activities, particularly when pollution levels are elevated.
Checking the AQI at different times can also help identify changes during the day. The Sameer app provides hourly National AQI updates, while CPCB publishes daily AQI bulletins.
If your city’s AQI moves into the Poor, Very Poor or Severe categories, the health information associated with the official AQI becomes particularly relevant. People who are sensitive to air pollution may need to be more cautious about prolonged outdoor exposure.
Should you trust every AQI app?
Third-party weather and air-quality apps can be useful, but users should understand that different services may use different data sources, monitoring stations, models or calculation methods.
For an India-specific official reading, CPCB data is a strong starting point because the National AQI is maintained through the country’s official pollution-control framework. CPCB also provides access to real-time air-quality data and AQI-related resources.
If two apps show different numbers, do not immediately assume that one is wrong. First check the monitoring station, timestamp, pollutant data and AQI methodology being used.
For local reporting, government data should also be checked before publishing a city AQI figure.
What to do after checking the AQI
AQI information becomes useful when it changes a practical decision. On days with higher pollution, people can consider reducing prolonged outdoor activity and paying closer attention to official health guidance.
The AQI should not be treated as a medical diagnosis. It is a public communication tool designed to make air-quality information easier to understand.
For journalists, residents and local authorities, the most useful approach is to combine the AQI number with the monitoring location, timestamp, pollutant readings and official health category.
For people in cities such as Nagpur, Indore, Lucknow, Jaipur, Surat, Patna, Kanpur, Nashik, Bhopal, Ranchi and other growing urban centres, checking local air quality can provide a more meaningful picture than relying only on national pollution headlines.
Key Takeaways
- CPCB is the primary official source for India’s National Air Quality Index and related air-quality data.
- The Sameer app provides hourly National AQI updates and also allows users to submit air-pollution complaints.
- India’s AQI ranges from Good at 0-50 to Severe at 401-500, with different health implications across categories.
- A citywide AQI may not represent conditions in every neighbourhood, so checking the nearest available monitoring station is useful.
FAQ
How can I check my city’s AQI online?
You can check it through the Central Pollution Control Board’s official air-quality resources, including its real-time air-quality data and daily AQI bulletins. The Sameer app is another official option for checking National AQI information.
What AQI level is considered safe in India?
Under India’s National AQI system, 0 to 50 is classified as Good, with minimal health impact. The Satisfactory category covers 51 to 100. Health concerns become progressively more significant as the AQI moves into Moderate, Poor, Very Poor and Severe categories.
Is PM2.5 the same as AQI?
No. PM2.5 is a specific type of fine particulate pollution, while AQI is an index used to communicate overall air quality. PM2.5 can contribute significantly to an AQI reading, but it is not itself the AQI.
Why is my AQI app showing a different number from another app?
Different services may use different monitoring stations, data sources, timestamps or calculation methods. When checking India’s official AQI, compare the reading with CPCB data and check which monitoring station and time the figure represents. CPCB also notes that air quality can vary between monitoring locations within the same city.
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