India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 278 for Sri Ganganagar on Nov. 10, while an NDTV Profit ranking published that day listed 614 without identifying its measurement method.
NDTV Profit published its list at 8:34 a.m. ET (13:34 UTC) on Nov. 10. CPCB’s bulletin covered the 24 hours through 5:30 a.m. ET (10:30 UTC) that day. The ranking gave no data provider, observation time, averaging period or calculation method, leaving no documented basis for a direct comparison with the official daily readings.
NDTV Profit placed three cities above 500: Sri Ganganagar at 614, Hisar at 526 and Sirsa at 517. CPCB recorded 278 for Sri Ganganagar, 316 for Hisar and 322 for Sirsa. The board classified the first reading as Poor and the other two as Very Poor.
| Rank | City | NDTV Profit ranking | CPCB daily reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan | 614 | 278 — Poor |
| 2 | Hisar, Haryana | 526 | 316 — Very Poor |
| 3 | Sirsa, Haryana | 517 | 322 — Very Poor |
| 4 | Bathinda, Punjab | 449 | Insufficient data |
| 5 | Bhiwani, Haryana | 387 | 219 — Poor |
| 6 | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir | 374 | 40 — Good |
| 7 | Faridkot, Punjab | 368 | No entry |
| 8 | Saharsa, Bihar | 364 | Insufficient data |
| 9 | Patiala, Punjab | 360 | 206 — Poor |
| 10 | Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh | 353 | 263 — Poor |
One of the largest numerical differences is for Srinagar: 374 in the ranking and 40 in CPCB’s bulletin. The board used data from one of the city’s two monitoring stations. The difference alone does not establish that either reading is wrong. CPCB also listed insufficient data for Bathinda and Saharsa; Faridkot had no entry in its bulletin.
NDTV Profit labeled all 10 cities Hazardous. CPCB’s six-category national scale has no Hazardous band: it calls readings from 301 to 400 Very Poor and those from 401 to 500 Severe. The board associates its Very Poor category with respiratory illness after prolonged exposure.
CPCB calculates an overall AQI using the highest pollutant sub-index and says city readings may average results from multiple monitoring stations. It identified PM10 as the prominent pollutant for Sri Ganganagar.
