CONTEXT:

• According to the ‘Political Leaders Position and Action on Air Quality in India 2014-2019’ report, the air quality in Varanasi is ranked third on the WHO’s list of 15 most polluted cities in the world.

Background:

• Fourteen of the 15 most polluted cities in the world, listed by World Health Organisation (WHO) are in India, of which four are in Uttar Pradesh.
• Kanpur is the most polluted city in the world.