Peripheral NCR Cities Face Worse Pollution Spike Than Delhi in Early 2026

• A Moneycontrol analysis reveals Delhi's peripheral cities experienced a sharper increase in pollution levels than the capital itself in early 2026.
• Cities like Meerut, Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad recorded significantly higher average AQI levels in January 2026 compared to the previous year.
• Meerut's average AQI surged to 259 in January 2026 from 141 last year, pushing it into the "poor" to "very poor" category.
• The trend indicates a shift in pollution pressure from Delhi towards its rapidly developing peripheral regions.
• Major cities across India, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, also reported increased pollution levels year-on-year.

Why It Matters: Pollution is worsening across India, with peripheral NCR cities now facing a more severe spike than Delhi.