India records 19.3% reduction in particulate pollution, but air pollution remains the biggest external risk to human health

India experienced a 19.3% drop in particulate pollution between 2021 and 2022, though 42.6% of its population resides in areas exceeding national air quality standards. Haryana and Punjab are significant contributors. Aligning PM 2.5 levels with WHO guidelines could appreciably boost life expectancy across the nation.