Global Outlook

  The festival of Diwali, often referred to as the "Festival of Lights," is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor across India. While the tradition of lighting lamps and bursting firecrackers has been an integral part of the festivities, concerns over air pollution and its adverse effects on public health have prompted authorities to regulate the use of fireworks. The Bombay High Court , in a recent decision, has imposed restrictions on the bursting of firecrackers in Mumbai during Diwali, specifying designated timings to minimize the environmental impact. In an effort to strike a balance between celebrating the festival and safeguarding the environment, the Bombay High Court issued a directive that restricts the use of firecrackers to specific time slots. The court's decision is a response to the rising concerns about air quality and noise pollution during Diwali, which often reaches hazardous levels in several Indian cities. These timings aim to strike a balance b...

 New Delhi and Kolkata are the two most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels, according to a report released by Health Effects Institutes (HEI) based in the United States. The study ranked cities based on two major air pollutants found — fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). According to the latest State of Global Air report on air quality and health in cities, most global cities far exceed World Health Organisation's (WHO) air pollution guidelines. The report, 'Air Quality and Health in Cities', used data from 2010 to 2019. Earlier, the WHO issued guidelines that cut acceptable annual exposure of small and hazardous airborne particles known as PM2.5 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.  According to the report, Shanghai city in China and Moscow city in Russia are the two most polluted cities in terms of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Which cities are the most polluted in terms of PM2.5 levels? Delhi (India), Kolkata (India), K...