Bengaluru, India Air Quality & Smog

Dominant pollutants, when pollution and smog are worst, a notable historical episode, and the official monitoring agencies for Bengaluru, India — plus how to check the current reading. Bengaluru reports air quality on the National Air Quality Index — our full guide explains how that scale works and how it compares to the US AQI.

Dominant pollutants

PM2.5, PM10, NO₂ (traffic).

Seasonal pattern: when smog is worst

Bengaluru's elevation and mild climate keep its air far better than north India's, with the AQI usually in the "Moderate" range. The main pressures are traffic-driven NO₂ on the city's notoriously congested roads and construction dust from rapid IT-corridor expansion.

A notable air-quality episode

The city's air quality has tracked its explosive growth — vehicle numbers have multiplied over the past two decades, prompting the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to expand its continuous-monitoring network across the metro.

The local index and who runs it

Bengaluru reports air quality using the National Air Quality Index, not the US AQI — so the same air can read as a different number than you may be used to. The CPCB portal aggregates KSPCB's continuous-monitoring stations across Bengaluru.

• Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)
• CPCB

How to check air quality in Bengaluru

For the official live reading, the agency portals above are the canonical source. To understand what the numbers mean, start with our guide to the National Air Quality Index and the broader comparison of world air-quality indices. Smog Report puts glanceable air quality on your iPhone — widgets, Live Activities, Siri, and Apple Watch — free and with no account.

Common questions about Bengaluru air quality

Why does Bengaluru have air-quality and smog problems?

Bengaluru's elevation and mild climate keep its air far better than north India's, with the AQI usually in the "Moderate" range. The main pressures are traffic-driven NO₂ on the city's notoriously congested roads and construction dust from rapid IT-corridor expansion.

What are the main air pollutants in Bengaluru?

Bengaluru's dominant pollutants are PM2.5, PM10, NO₂ (traffic). The reading on any given day is usually driven by whichever of these is highest.

Has Bengaluru had a major air-quality or smog event?

The city's air quality has tracked its explosive growth — vehicle numbers have multiplied over the past two decades, prompting the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to expand its continuous-monitoring network across the metro.

What air-quality index does Bengaluru use?

Bengaluru reports air quality on the National Air Quality Index (AQI), not the US AQI — so the same air can read as a different number than you may be used to. For live, glanceable readings on your iPhone, the free Smog Report app auto-selects the right local index for wherever you are.

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