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India, which was ranked 141 out of total 180 countries on the Global Environmental Performance Index (EPI) rankings in 2016, has slipped further to the 177th position this year. Failure to improve its air quality, protect biodiversity and cut greenhouse gas emissions has been cited as reason for placing the country at the bottom, according to the State of India's Environment (SoE) 2018 in Figures. Though the national Capital was always in the news for its poor air quality, an analysis of the winter (November and December 2017) and summer (April-May 27, 2018) air quality levels of 10 State capital cities shows that they too are in the dangerous grip of a multi-pollutant crisis, and are currently facing a severe health challenge. Notably in summer, Delhi had 65 per cent days when poor and very poor air quality was recorded, in winters this percentage increased to 85. Interestingly, only about 1 per cent of the monitored days in summer months, the air quality was observed to be satisfactory in the city.