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Delhi Air Quality
With Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas of North India reeling from worsening air pollution, air purifier sales have surged as manufacturers and retailers report a spike in consumer enquiries and purchases, particularly after Diwali, even as companies see a gradual shift toward year-round adoption. A post-Diwali surge in demand for air purifiers, once seen as a recurring trend, is now part of a broader shift in consumer behaviour. The demand, triggered by seasonal pollution spikes, is increasingly shifting from panic-driven buying to more proactive adoption, with consumers viewing air purifiers as a year-round necessity rather than a seasonal purchase. The segment, earlier considered to be a niche and largely confined to top metropolitan cities, is now witnessing demand from other parts of the country, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. This indicates a widening consumer base beyond traditional markets, though Delhi-NCR continues to dominate the category, having
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday said air pollution does not recognise state boundaries, and called for coordinated implementation of pollution control measures across the national capital region (NCR). The minister stressed the need for real-time monitoring through integrated command and control centres (ICCCs), and direct accountability of field officers for violations. Yadav on Saturday chaired a meeting to assess measures undertaken in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for mitigating air pollution in Delhi-NCR. During the meeting, state governments were directed to nominate secretary-level officials for seven cities in Haryana, four cities in Uttar Pradesh, and four cities in Rajasthan for implementation of pollution control measures through field visits and submission of weekly reports to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The CAQM was requested to issue notices to non-performing officers. Other directions included expediting the
The national capital woke up to yet another day of 'very poor' air quality on Saturday morning, with forecasts pointing to further deterioration in the next few days. The air quality index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 348 (very poor), as compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 373 at 4 pm on Friday, according to data from the Central Board of Pollution Control (CPCB). As per the CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. Out of the 59 air quality monitoring stations in the city, seven recorded AQI in the 'severe' category on Saturday morning. According to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI is expected to deteriorate further in the next few days. Several weather stations saw a slight increase in the minimum temperature. Safdarjung, representative of the city's weather, recorded a minimum of 16.4 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above the normal and
The Delhi High Court has directed the MCD commissioner to constitute a high-powered committee in consultation with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to deal with the issue of repair, sealing or demolition of dangerous and dilapidated buildings during GRAP-related restrictions. In an order passed on November 6, Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed that since demolition activities are prohibited during the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-related restrictions, the civic authorities cannot take steps for the removal of such dangerous structures till February 10, and directed that the committee be constituted as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a week. Justice Banerjee took suo motu cognisance of the imminent threat to the lives of occupants and owners of such buildings as well as to the passers-by and occupants of adjoining properties, and remarked that the court "cannot just remain a mute spectator" in the face of tragedies like the Satya Niketan building collapse. "No doubt, the
Delhi's air quality was in the 'very poor' category on Sunday, but set to worsen after Diwali celebrations in the evening. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the day settled at 376 in the 'very poor' category as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city and reduced visibility. The air quality is forecast to turn 'severe' on Monday following Diwali celebrations, combined with vehicular emissions, as well as the peak stubble-burning season. Of the 59 monitoring stations that recorded data on Sunday, air quality was in the 'severe' category at 12 and in the 'very poor' category at 22. The worst AQI was recorded in Jahangirpuri at 463. The city's average AQI increased from 369 on Saturday to 376 on Sunday, remaining not far from the 'severe' threshold of 400. Several monitoring stations have already breached this mark, indicating deterioration in air quality across the capital. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, the air quality is likely to remain i
The Delhi government on Saturday said it will implement the ban on vehicles below BS-VI emission standards registered in other states or Union territories every year between November 1 and January 31. It earlier announced a ban on the plying of non-Delhi-registered motor vehicles that are below BS-VI emission norms for the same period this year -- which is usually marked by the worst of the city's air pollution and quality -- under its Winter Action Plan to limit vehicular emissions and curb dust on roads. "Every year, from November 1 to January 31, other state-registered BS-IV and below vehicles will not be allowed to ply in Delhi," a Delhi transport department's public notification said on Saturday. With effect from November 1, 2026, commercial goods vehicles, including large goods vehicles, medium goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles and buses which are BS-IV and below, will not be permitted to enter Delhi, it said, adding that this also includes buses operating under the All