PM Narendra Modi speaking at inauguration of two-day conference of State Environment & Forest Ministers in Delhi. PM Modi launches the national air quality index to monitor pollution level in 10 cities.

Modi says India should have taken the lead on climate change.

The index will inform the public about the level of pollution in the air on a daily basis in real-time. The AQI is a global standard used to understand air quality.

It takes various parameters available in our national air quality standard and presents it as a cumulative on a 6 colour coded scale.

Dark green denotes the cleanest and maroon denotes the most polluted.

A World Health Organization study shows that 13 Indian cities figure among the 20 most polluted cities of the world. The project's aim is also to enhance public awareness and involvement in efforts to improve air quality.

According to environment minister Prakash Javadekar, the service will be expanded to 46 cities with a population of 1 million or more each and 20 state capitals in the next couple of years.