Page 6 - Air Quality

Delhi sees cleanest July air in 7 years; heavy rains likely in Aug-Sept

Average AQI in the national capital for July drops to 78, with 29 'satisfactory' air days; IMD predicts above-normal rainfall in the second half of monsoon

Swiss firm's pollution rankings misleading: Govt tells Parliament

The government on Thursday questioned the credibility of a global report that ranked India among the world's most polluted countries, saying the rankings could be "misleading" due to limitations in data sources and methodology. Replying to an unstarred question by Congress MP Pramod Tiwari in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said the IQAir report published in March 2024 ranks countries based on average PM2.5 concentrations. "However, it must be noted that only 38 per cent of the data sources used in the report are from government agencies. The remaining 62 per cent are from other agencies and include data generated using low-cost sensors," Singh said in his written reply. He said that such sensors are not approved for regulatory use and can produce data with a significant degree of error or uncertainty. "The data from a variety of monitors and sources, especially low-cost sensors, may have inaccuracies. Moreover, the report uses ...

Delhi likely to see light rain till July 18; AQI in 'satisfactory' range

Showers bring relief to Delhi, with light rain, thunderstorms, and cloud cover expected to continue through the week; air quality remains in the 'satisfactory' category

Delhi air remains cleanest for 11 days in a row; rain predicted on Monday

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the 'satisfactory' category for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday, the cleanest spell recorded so far this year. The AQI was recorded at 76 at 4 pm on Sunday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It has remained below 100 throughout the last 11 days, after plunging from 134 (moderate category) on June 25 to 94 (satisfactory) on June 26. According to the CPCB, 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 national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is 0.5 degrees above the season's average. The minimum temperature was at 28.8 degrees Celsius, while the relative humidity stood at 83 per cent at 5.30 pm. Meanwhile, most parts of the city recorded below-normal maximum temperatures on Sunday. Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, recorded 35 deg

80 vehicles impounded as fuel ban on overage vehicles begins in Delhi

Amid high surveillance, tight security and multi-agency coordination, the fuel ban on overage vehicles kicked in Delhi on Tuesday with 80 such vehicles being impounded, officials said. Petrol pumps across Delhi have been asked not to provide fuel to end-of-life (EoL) vehicles starting Tuesday under the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), with the Transport Department along with the Delhi Police and traffic personnel putting in place a detailed enforcement strategy to ensure strict compliance. According to an official from the Transport Department, 98 vehicles were captured on camera, out of which 80 were impounded -- 45 by the Transport Department, 34 by the Delhi Police and one by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Petrol pumps either did not receive overage vehicles or they shared that there was not much of an issue on the first day. The Transport Department has chalked out a detailed deployment plan involving personnel from its organisation, Del

No fuel in Delhi for old vehicles registered anywhere in India from July 1

The Commission for Air Quality Management has formulated the plan to close the loophole Delhi residents use by registering their overage vehicles in other states

Stage-I Grap measures enforced in NCR as Delhi AQI plunges to 'poor'

The action came after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 209, which falls under the 'Poor' category

CAQM mandates only CNG, electric vehicles for e-commerce fleets in NCR

From January 2026, no petrol or diesel vehicles can be added to aggregator fleets in NCR, with CAQM pushing for faster transition to clean mobility options

Canadian wildfire smoke reaches US Midwest, Europe; air 'very unhealthy'

Smoke from Canadian wildfires carried another day of poor air quality south of the border to the Midwest, where conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were rated "very unhealthy" on Tuesday. The fires have forced more than 27,000 Canadians in three provinces to flee their homes, and the smoke has even reached Europe. The smell of smoke hung over the Minneapolis-St Paul area on Tuesday morning despite rain that obscured the full measure of the dirty air. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an alert for almost the entire state into Wednesday, but the Twin Cities area got the worst of it in the Midwest on Tuesday. "As the smoke continues to move across the state Tuesday, air quality will slowly improve from northwest to southeast for the remainder of the alert area," the agency said. "The smoke is expected to leave the state by Wednesday at noon." The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned that air quality in a band from the state's southwest corner to

Delhi's air quality improves to 'satisfactory', AQI recorded at 96

The city recorded a minimum temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius on Friday with the weather department forecasting rain and thunderstorm. The relative humidity was recorded at 69 per cent at 8.30 am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maximum temperature is expected to touch 37 degrees Celsius. Delhi's air quality improved and was recorded in the 'satisfactory' category with a reading of 96. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Delhi-NCR air quality improves to 'poor', AQI drops to 298 post dust storm

Delhi-NCR air quality improves to 'poor' with AQI at 298 after dust storm, though areas like Anand Vihar Ashok Vihar and Aya Nagar continue to report 'very poor' levels

Delhi weather update: Rain, thunderstorms expected today, AQI at 131

Strong surface winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also expected

Delhi braces for heatwave as temperature set to rise, AQI remains poor

The IMD has forecast a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius for today

Air pollution levels across India well above global standards: WHO official

Strategies like LPG subsidies and a switch to cleaner cooking fuels could help India become a leader in meeting this challenge, says Dr Maria Neira, director of environment and health at WHO

Anti-ageing millionaire Bryan Johnson raises alarm over India's pollution

Tech entrepreneur says breathing in India equates to smoking multiple cigarettes daily

Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'poor' category, AQI rises to 221

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorated, falling into the 'poor' or 'moderate' category

Delhi's air quality remains in 'moderate' category, AQI drops to 194

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) improved, falling in the 'satisfactory' or 'moderate' category

Delhi air quality remains 'poor' as city records hottest day of season

Air quality across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) deteriorated, falling in the 'poor' category with the AQI at 215

Delhi air improves to 'moderate' category, AQI at 198 as temperature rises

As Delhi transitions into pre-monsoon weather, the city's AQI improves to the 'moderate' category, aided by clearer skies and favourable wind conditions across the NCR

Delhi air quality remains in 'moderate' category, AQI plunges to 136

Air quality across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) improved, remaining in the 'moderate' or 'satisfactory' category