Air quality in Cuttack
How bad is the air in Cuttack?
Cuttack’s 2025 average of AQI 120 is Moderate on the CPCB scale, and the median day was 94. 154 days crossed 100 (Moderate or worse) and 66 crossed 200 (Poor or worse).
The peak was AQI 332 on 25 November 2025. Coarse dust (PM10) set the index on 34% of days.
When Cuttack’s air is worst
December is the worst month at a mean of AQI 258; September the cleanest at ~46. That is the post-monsoon pattern: cooler nights lower the mixing height, winds drop, and whatever the city emits stays over it.
Plan around the profile, not the average: a purifier sized for December covers the rest of the year with headroom, and windows can be opened in September.
Pollution in Cuttack: what drives it
Across Odisha, the usual drivers of poor air are vehicle exhaust, construction dust, industrial emissions and waste burning. CPCB bulletins name coarse dust (PM10) as the prominent pollutant on 34% of 2025's days.
- vehicle exhaust
- construction dust
- industrial emissions
- waste burning
How Cuttack compares
Among the 62 cities we map, Cuttack has the 14th highest annual AQI, against a median of 94 across those cities.
Elsewhere in Odisha, Bhubaneswar averaged AQI 109.
See the full ranking on the India Air Quality Index by city.
Do you need an air purifier in Cuttack?
Verdict
Yes — Cuttack needs one for a good part of the year.
With 66 days at Poor or worse and an annual average of 120, a bedroom-sized HEPA purifier run at 5 air changes an hour is the difference between sleeping in "Poor" air and "Satisfactory" air. Size it from room volume, not the coverage figure on the box.
What actually works
- Size by volume, not the box. Coverage claims assume ~2 air changes an hour; a December night wants 5.
- Bedroom first. Eight closed-door hours a night is where a purifier makes its measurable difference.
- Watch the live number. On Good and Satisfactory days, ventilate; on Poor days, close up and run the unit at the speed that delivers its CADR.
06 · The other half
Water in Cuttack
Groundwater near Cuttack averages ~278 mg/L TDS on CGWB monitoring — ideal on the BIS scale. The same government-data report, for what you drink.
Air
AQI 120
Moderate
Water
278 mg/L
TDS · Ideal
Cuttack air — questions
What is the AQI in Cuttack today?
Today's figure comes from CPCB's live station feed and is shown at the top of this page, updated hourly when the feed is reachable. For context, Cuttack averaged AQI 120 across 2025 and peaked at 332 on 25 November 2025, so a single day's reading should be judged against that range.
How bad is air pollution in Cuttack?
Cuttack's 2025 average of AQI 120 sits in CPCB's "Moderate" band. 66 days were Poor, Very Poor or Severe, and 188 days were Good or Satisfactory, out of 342 bulletin days.
Which month has the worst air quality in Cuttack?
December, with a monthly average of AQI 258 in 2025. September was the cleanest at ~46. The post-monsoon build-up, cooler nights and a lower mixing height trap pollution from October onwards.
Is the air in Cuttack safe to breathe?
Not by CPCB's own scale: an annual AQI of 120 is "Moderate", which CPCB associates with breathing discomfort on prolonged exposure for people with lung or heart disease, children and older adults. The 24-hour PM2.5 standard (60 µg/m³) is roughly where AQI passes 100.
Do I need an air purifier in Cuttack?
Yes — Cuttack needs one for a good part of the year. With 66 days at Poor or worse and an annual average of 120, a bedroom-sized HEPA purifier run at 5 air changes an hour is the difference between sleeping in "Poor" air and "Satisfactory" air. Size it from room volume, not the coverage figure on the box.
Where does Cuttack's air pollution come from?
Across Odisha, the usual drivers of poor air are vehicle exhaust, construction dust, industrial emissions and waste burning. CPCB bulletins name coarse dust (PM10) as the prominent pollutant on 34% of 2025's days.
Where does this air quality data come from?
From the Central Pollution Control Board's daily AQI bulletin, published at 4 PM as a 24-hour average for each city with continuous monitoring stations. This page aggregates 342 bulletin days for Cuttack in 2025, drawn from 1 station. The live figure uses the same CPCB station network through the Government of India's open-data feed.
Air quality in other cities
Data sources
- CPCB Daily AQI Bulletin (4 PM, 24-hour average), 2025 — city-level National AQI, prominent pollutant and station counts
- CPCB National Air Quality Index (2014) — six-band scale used for all categories
- NAAQS 2009 (24-hour PM2.5 60 µg/m³, PM10 100 µg/m³) — the concentrations that mark the Satisfactory/Moderate boundary
- Live readings: CPCB real-time station feed via data.gov.in, refreshed hourly.
Primary dataset: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) National Air Quality Index, Government of India.
Disclaimer: Figures are city-level averages of the CPCB daily AQI bulletin for the year shown and may differ from the air at your address, which depends on traffic, construction and the nearest station. This page is general information, not medical advice; for respiratory or cardiac conditions consult a qualified professional. Any purifier guidance is general sizing advice, not a product recommendation.