Haryana continued to dominate India’s pollution map in May 2026, with four of the country’s 10 most polluted air quality monitoring stations located in the state. Faridabad and Manesar (Panchgaon) were among the worst-affected zones, even as Charkhi Dadri topped the national list with alarming particulate matter levels, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) revealed that Charkhi Dadri recorded the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 99 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) during the month nearly four times the WHO-recommended safe limit. The district’s poor air quality is attributed to a combination of mining, quarrying and stone-crushing activities, its location in a semi-arid belt prone to dust storms, and heavy truck movement on key transport corridors.Panchgaon in Gurgaon district, a longstanding pollution hotspot, ranked third nationally with an average PM2.5 of 85 µg/m³. The area’s elevated levels are largely driven by ongoing mining, construction activity and dust emissions. Jind and Faridabad also featured repeatedly in the top 10 through the month, underscoring the recurring nature of Haryana’s air quality crisis even outside the winter season.Faridabad had a particularly difficult May, failing to record a single good air quality day. The city witnessed eight satisfactory days, 20 moderate days and three poor days — a grim indicator of the persistent pollution burden faced by its residents.Across Haryana, CREA’s analysis found 12 areas in the moderate category (61–90 µg/m³) and one in the poor category (91–120 µg/m³) based on monthly average PM2.5 levels, pointing to a widespread and structural air pollution problem rather than a seasonal one.At the national level, northern India continued to bear the brunt of poor air quality, while southern and northeastern regions fared significantly better. Mizoram’s capital Aizawl was the cleanest city in the country with an average PM2.5 of just 3 µg/m³. Among state capitals, Delhi remained the most polluted with an average PM2.5 of 53 µg/m³, followed by Patna and Chandigarh.Experts stressed that Haryana’s dominance in pollution rankings even during non-winter months signals a deep-rooted structural challenge requiring urgent and sustained policy intervention.