Congress criticizes India’s air quality, demands law reforms
On March 16, 2025, Congress criticized the Indian government after a report ranked India as the fifth most polluted country. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh called for the reversal of environmental law amendments made over the past decade. The report by IQAIR revealed that India's average concentration of fine particulate matter is significantly above World Health Organization guidelines. Ramesh noted that 74 of the world's 100 most polluted cities are in India, with New Delhi ranked second. Ramesh urged the government to increase funding for pollution control and revamp existing air quality standards. He emphasized the need for better enforcement of pollution norms and a comprehensive approach to address air quality issues across the country.