The air quality in Delhi has turned toxic and hazardous again and it has been plummeting ever since Diwali. A thick layer of smog has engulfed the national capital and its surrounding regions, making it difficult for citizens to breathe. Experts have advised residents to limit their outdoor activities and have also prescribed masks and use of air purifiers.
Air quality in the national capital worsened to very poor category amid dense fog, while the IMD issued a yellow alert warning of reduced visibility, thunderstorms and gusty winds in isolated areas
Air quality in Delhi showed marginal improvement on Friday, while IMD's forecast of rain and thunderstorms raised hopes of further respite from the serious winter pollution
Updated On : 30 Jan 2026 | 9:54 AM ISTDelhi remains under smog with AQI in poor range at many locations even as Grap Stage III is lifted; IMD forecasts cloudy skies for Thursday
Updated On : 29 Jan 2026 | 10:53 AM ISTDelhi's air quality showed a slight improvement on Wednesday morning, with AQI dropping to 273, but several areas continued to record 'very poor' pollution levels despite the revocation of Grap Stage
Updated On : 28 Jan 2026 | 11:08 AM ISTSeveral stations report better readings compared to the previous day, yet Delhi's overall AQI stays 'poor' as misty mornings continue and maximum temperatures climb
Delhi's overall AQI recorded at 295 in the poor category; IMD forecasts a rise in minimum temperature with mainly clear skies and misty conditions during morning hours in the national capital
Delhi's air quality worsened to poor levels, with several hotspots reporting very poor AQI, even as the government cited a decline in the number of 'severe' air quality days this winter
Calm winds and shallow fog marked the morning in Delhi as the city's air quality deteriorated, with overall AQI recorded at 209 in the 'poor' category, slipping from 'moderate' levels a day earlier
Delhi's air quality improved marginally on Sunday but remained in the moderate-to-poor range as smog lingered, with chilly weather and fog expected through the week
Overall AQI improved to 226, with 25 monitoring stations in the 'poor' category and 14 'moderate'; none recorded 'very poor' air quality, unlike the previous day when 18 stations fell in that category
A marginal dip in pollution levels was recorded across Delhi on Thursday morning, though air quality stayed in the poor category with smog lingering in several areas despite weather-related relief
Early morning fog sharply reduced visibility across the capital, slowing traffic, while flights at IGI Airport operated under low-visibility protocols as the AQI remained in the poor category
Dense fog covered Delhi on Monday, but rainfall and improved wind conditions helped bring the city's overall air quality down to the 'moderate' category, offering brief relief after days of 'poor' air
Air pollution in Delhi turned to 'very poor' on Sunday, with 27 stations recording AQI above 300 as light showers failed to clear smog; IMD forecasts hazy skies and cold day conditions for today
Delhi recorded 'poor' air quality on Saturday morning as dense to very dense fog reduced visibility across north and central India, affecting several airports
Jahangirpuri recorded the worst AQI at 378, with 22 of 39 monitoring stations in Delhi reporting air quality in the 'very poor' category, while 13 areas had their readings in the 'poor' levels
Despite marginal improvements, Delhi's air quality stayed in the poor category on Republic Day with around 13 stations recording moderate levels while Anand Vihar remained worst hit at 300
Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category on Sunday after rainfall eased pollution, ending 103 days of hazardous AQI, though poor levels may return
After nearly three-and-a-half months -- 103 days to be exact -- Delhi's air quality on Saturday returned to the 'moderate' category, with the average AQI recorded at 192, as rainfall brought some respite from the prolonged spell of hazardous air. According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the last time the capital recorded 'moderate' air quality was on October 13, 2025, when the Air Quality index (AQI) stood at 189. Between October 1 and October 13, Delhi witnessed nine days of 'moderate' air quality, before pollution levels deteriorated sharply. CREA's analysis showed that October 14, 2025, onwards, hazardous air pollution levels were recorded in the city, with 26 days of 'poor' AQI, 66 days of 'very poor' AQI, and 10 days of 'severe' readings. "Even Saturday's improvement to the 'moderate' range offers limited relief, as this category is known to cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders, asthma and heart disease," the ...
Delhi woke up to dense fog after rainfall on January 23 as the pollution levels remained high, with overall AQI at 256 and several hotspots recording 'very poor' air quality