This week, India is officially hosting the World Environment Day Celebrations. Prime Minister Modi has termed it as an important achievement for India and a recognition of India's growing leadership in tackling climate change.

However as India celebrates this important day, it's also a sober reminder that we bear the shame of 14 of our cities ranking amongst the top 20 worst polluted, when it comes to the air we breathe.

Why has India failed so miserably on tackling air pollution? Is the challenge too daunting because India is such highly populated or is it simply a failure to recognise the price it is paying for breathing toxic air?

First Published:Jun 7, 2018 10:04 PM IST