Air pollution is no longer just a seasonal or environmental concern; it has begun to shape everyday life, from travel choices to healthcare priorities. On Sunday morning, the Indian national capital continued to struggle with poor air quality. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded the Air Quality Index (AQI) around ITO at 284, categorising it as “poor."

In India, where rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are accelerating pollution, the economic ripple effects are becoming impossible to ignore. The so-called “smog economy" is emerging, revealing a landscape where air quality is a decisive factor in tourism, real estate, and healthcare spending. Simply put, the air people breathe is now shaping financial behaviour as much as it is affecting physical health, crea

See Full Page