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Air Quality Index

Delhi AQI improves slightly to 164, pollution from fine particles persists

PM2.5 and PM10 remained the dominant pollutants, though readings varied across monitoring stations

Delhi AQI improves slightly to 164, pollution from fine particles persists
Updated On : 26 Oct 2026 | 8:17 AM IST

Delhi records best AQI for Oct 24 in 10 years excluding Covid period: Govt

Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 on Saturday, the lowest for October 24 in a decade, excluding the Covid period, the Delhi government said, attributing the improvement to sustained pollution control measures. According to a statement issued by the Environment Department, the AQI stood at 306 on October 24 in 2024 and 275 on the corresponding date in 2025, before declining to 191 this year. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the improvement reflected the government's efforts to tackle pollution through enforcement, monitoring and public participation. An AQI of 191 falls in the 'moderate' category. The government said nearly 9,883 vehicle challans were issued in the last 24 hours as part of its anti-pollution drive. During the same period, 2,810 km of roads were mechanically swept and 1,075 km covered through water sprinkling to control dust. Authorities also removed 12,702 metric tonnes of waste, lifted 2,223 metric tonnes of construction and demolitio

Delhi records best AQI for Oct 24 in 10 years excluding Covid period: Govt
Updated On : 24 Oct 2026 | 8:24 PM IST

Delhi AQI improves slightly to 223; poor air quality likely through Sunday

Delhi witnessed its first 'poor' air quality day of the season on Wednesday, earlier this week. According to weather agencies, the poor air quality is likely to persist until October 25

Delhi AQI improves slightly to 223; poor air quality likely through Sunday
Updated On : 23 Oct 2026 | 8:39 AM IST

Best of Opinion: Will El Niño's delayed fallout show up in H2FY27?

Today's editorials and columns examine SBI's cybersecurity concerns, Delhi's pollution response, El Niño's impact on economic growth, EU steel regulations and India's electric vehicle transition.

Best of Opinion: Will El Niño's delayed fallout show up in H2FY27?
Updated On : 23 Oct 2026 | 6:15 AM IST

Delhi wakes up to poor AQI at 226, Grap-I restrictions in force across NCR

While the national capital's overall AQI stood at 226 at 7 am on Thursday, some areas of Delhi recorded very poor air quality

Delhi wakes up to poor AQI at 226, Grap-I restrictions in force across NCR
Updated On : 22 Oct 2026 | 8:48 AM IST

Grap Stage 1 invoked across Delhi-NCR as AQI enters 'poor' category

Grap Stage 1 measures include mechanised road sweeping, water sprinkling to control dust, regular waste collection and action against open waste burning

Grap Stage 1 invoked across Delhi-NCR as AQI enters 'poor' category
Updated On : 21 Oct 2026 | 4:09 PM IST

Delhi's air quality slips to poor category, forecast to worsen further

Delhi's AQI reached 219 at 7 am on Wednesday, with forecasts indicating poor air quality over the coming days

Delhi's air quality slips to poor category, forecast to worsen further
Updated On : 21 Oct 2026 | 9:29 AM IST

Govt plans to roll out BS-VII emission norms in 3 phases from April 2029

The proposed BS-VII norms aim to cut emissions across pollutants by 20-50 per cent, with stricter limits on vehicle emissions under real-world driving conditions

Govt plans to roll out BS-VII emission norms in 3 phases from April 2029
Updated On : 14 Oct 2026 | 12:01 PM IST

Delhi logs lowest September average AQI in 5 years as air quality improves

Delhi's monthly average AQI stood at 102 in September, while January-September saw 194 days with an AQI below 200, the highest number in the past five years

Delhi logs lowest September average AQI in 5 years as air quality improves
Updated On : 30 Sep 2026 | 10:30 PM IST

IMD predicts heavy rainfall across most states; Delhi may get light showers

Maximum temperature likely to remain between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius in Delhi; heavy rainfall alert continues over parts of eastern and northeastern India

IMD predicts heavy rainfall across most states; Delhi may get light showers
Updated On : 17 Jul 2026 | 11:29 AM IST

Cloudy skies in Delhi as AQI turns 'poor'; rainfall likely in most states

Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the poor category amid hot and humid weather, while an active monsoon pattern is set to bring heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds to several states

Cloudy skies in Delhi as AQI turns 'poor'; rainfall likely in most states
Updated On : 13 Jul 2026 | 11:12 AM IST

Delhi cloudy conditions prevail as AQI improves to 'moderate' level

The national capital experienced a slight increase in minimum temperature on Saturday, while the maximum temperature decreased due to persistent cloudy conditions throughout the day. Although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for the day, only isolated areas of Delhi received light rain during the night between Friday and Saturday. On Saturday morning, the Safdarjung weather station, a key representative of the city's weather, did not record any rain, while other stations reported varying amounts: Palam received 1.9 mm of rain between 11.30 pm on Friday and 2.30 am on Saturday; Lodhi Road recorded 0.3 mm; Ridge also noted 1.9 mm; Ayanagar experienced 5.8 mm; and Pitampura saw 0.5 mm during the same period. No additional rain was observed until 5.30 pm, according to IMD data. The minimum temperature rose to 20.7 degrees Celsius, which is 1.9 degrees above normal and 1.5 degrees higher than the previous day. In contrast, the maximum temperature reached 32

Delhi cloudy conditions prevail as AQI improves to 'moderate' level
Updated On : 04 Apr 2026 | 7:45 PM IST

Delhi air quality improves to moderate after 157 days, AQI at 119

Delhi breathed easier on Monday after 157 days, as the city's air quality improved to 119 in the 'moderate' category, while the city recorded a maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 119, the lowest recorded since October 9, 2025, when the AQI had stood at 99 in the same category. At 9 am on Monday, the AQI stood at 97 in the 'satisfactory' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The improvement came after the city experienced light rain on Sunday. According to the CPCB classification, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. The improvement in air quality came after many parts of Delhi and the surrounding region on Sunday received light rain, triggered by a western disturbance. The drizzle brought respite from the rising heat and helped disperse pollutants in the

Delhi air quality improves to moderate after 157 days, AQI at 119
Updated On : 16 Mar 2026 | 9:41 PM IST

Delhi remains most polluted city in 2024-25, Patna second: Report

Delhi was the most polluted city during 2024-25, recording the highest annual PM2.5 levels and extended periods of "severe" air quality in winter while Patna was the second-most polluted city, according to a new analysis by Climate Trends. Climate Trends is a research-based consulting and capacity-building initiative that aims to bring greater focus on issues of environment, climate change and sustainable development. Based on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality monitoring data, this report analysed how meteorological conditions influence the persistence of PM2.5 pollution across six major Indian cities such as Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. Using CPCB air quality data (2024-2025) combined with meteorological clustering, the study distinguished emission-driven pollution from weather-driven variability. "Delhi continues to face the most severe pollution crisis nationally with the highest annual average PM2.5 levels and the longest stretches of ..

Delhi remains most polluted city in 2024-25, Patna second: Report
Updated On : 12 Mar 2026 | 9:17 AM IST

Delhi air quality remains poor as summer heat arrives early in the capital

Even as summer heat arrives early in Delhi, pollution stays high with AQI in 'poor' range. Experts warn prolonged exposure may affect children, elderly, and those with respiratory issues

Delhi air quality remains poor as summer heat arrives early in the capital
Updated On : 11 Mar 2026 | 12:32 PM IST

Delhi AQI stays 'poor', temperatures above normal; mercury to cross 35°C

Overall AQI at 208 with 25 stations in 'poor' category; warm night and cloudy skies push minimum temperature well above normal across the capital

Delhi AQI stays 'poor', temperatures above normal; mercury to cross 35°C
Updated On : 09 Mar 2026 | 10:26 AM IST

Delhi chokes on poor air as city records hottest early March in 50 yrs

AQI crossed 200 in Delhi after three days of 'moderate' air quality as IMD data showed the city recorded its hottest first week of March day in 50 years

Delhi chokes on poor air as city records hottest early March in 50 yrs
Updated On : 08 Mar 2026 | 9:06 AM IST

Delhi AQI slips to 'poor' category as pollution levels rise again

Overall AQI climbs to 227 with most monitoring stations in poor category; Mundka records 'very poor' air quality despite clear skies and warm conditions

Delhi AQI slips to 'poor' category as pollution levels rise again
Updated On : 07 Mar 2026 | 9:33 AM IST

Delhi AQI remains 'moderate' as surface winds keep pollution in check

Overall air quality index stands at 151 with most monitoring stations in moderate category; clear skies and warm conditions expected across the national capital

Delhi AQI remains 'moderate' as surface winds keep pollution in check
Updated On : 06 Mar 2026 | 9:57 AM IST

Delhi air quality improves to 'moderate' aided by strong surface winds

Air quality stands at 135 in moderate category; strong surface winds and clear skies likely to aid further dispersal of pollutants across the national capital

Delhi air quality improves to 'moderate' aided by strong surface winds
Updated On : 05 Mar 2026 | 9:33 AM IST