Gurugram's Air Hampers Education: 94,859 School Days Lost

According to a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a total of 94,859 school days were lost by children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 in 2025 due to pollution caused by road transport.

Vehicular pollution in Gurugram is affecting not only children's health but also their education. The ICCT study reveals that 94,859 school days were lost by children and adolescents (aged 5–18) in 2025 due to road transport pollution—an amount of time equivalent to the entire academic year for 431 children. The study also estimated that vehicular pollution led to 89 new cases of asthma among children and adolescents. The report identifies private cars as the primary source of pollution in Gurugram, indicating that vehicle emissions impact both children's health and their school attendance.

The figure of 94,859 lost school days does not mean schools were closed for that duration; rather, it represents the cumulative total of days individual children missed school due to pollution-related illnesses. This number is derived by aggregating all such missed days. Children who miss school due to illness suffer academically, as they are unable to participate in classroom lessons and other educational activities. Thus, pollution poses a challenge to both the health and education of children.

89 New Asthma Cases

According to the ICCT study, vehicular pollution in Gurugram contributed to 89 new cases of asthma among children and adolescents in 2025. Approximately one in four new asthma cases linked to air pollution was associated with vehicle emissions. Children are more vulnerable to pollution because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. Murthy Nair, an ICCT researcher and co-author of the study, noted that air pollution can have serious health impacts on children, and road transport is a major source of this pollution.

What is the contribution of vehicles to Gurugram's air pollution?

According to the study, road transport accounted for 6 percent of PM2.5 exposure in the Gurugram Municipal Corporation area in 2025. Meanwhile, the contribution of vehicles to nitrogen dioxide exposure was estimated at 20 percent. The report also revealed that in 41 percent of the Gurugram Municipal Corporation area, annual PM2.5 pollution levels from all sources exceeded World Health Organization guidelines.

Private cars: The biggest source of pollution

The ICCT report indicates that private cars account for the largest share of pollution caused by road transport in Gurugram. There are 323 cars for every 1,000 people in the city. The study also found that vehicles compliant with BS-4 and BS-6 standards—which are newer models—contributed to over 80 percent of vehicular emissions; this implies that the pollution problem is not limited to older vehicles alone. Additionally, around 500,000 vehicles enter Gurugram daily from Delhi and other parts of the NCR. Consequently, to reduce pollution, it is essential to address not only the vehicles registered within the city but also those entering from outside.