That’s not a typo. It’s a wake-up call. Despite this dismal ranking, there’s a glimmer: India’s score improved by +7.47 over the last decade. Air pollution remains a killer; especially in cities; and coal dependence still drags us down. But emissions growth is slowing. That’s progress, even if it’s too slow. The government previously dismissed the index as ‘unscientific,’ arguing it ignores our low per-capita emissions. Fair point. But rankings like this aren’t about blame; they’re about direction. And right now, India’s direction needs recalibration. We’re not failing because we’re poor. We’re failing because pollution has become collateral damage in our race to develop. The real question isn’t whether the index is perfect; it’s whether we’re ready to fix what it reveals.