Rahul, Brajesh Kumar, Anuradha Panwar, Ankit Aswal and Manish Kumar
Abstract
India, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, is experiencing a critical environmental crisis resulting from rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, population growth, and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. Air, water, and soil pollution have emerged as major environmental concerns, posing significant risks to public health and degrading the overall quality of life. India consistently ranks among the most pollution-affected countries globally, with environmental pollution contributing substantially to a range of chronic illnesses and premature mortality. These conditions highlight the persistent shortcomings in pollution control, mitigation, and monitoring efforts by regulatory authorities. In this study, five highly polluted cities-Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Noida were examined due to their consistently elevated pollution levels and substantial impact on human health. During the 2024-2025 period, Delhi recorded an annual average Air Quality Index (AQI) of approximately 209 in 2024 and 172 up to August 2025, while Faridabad and Gurugram exhibited poor air quality with recent AQI levels averaging around 117. This review assesses the major environmental challenges in India in relation to current public health concerns and recent health statistics.