New Delhi is once again grappling with severe air pollution, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Monday, October 27, 2025. The city's average AQI was recorded at 315, prompting concerns among residents and authorities alike.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as ‘very poor,’ indicating that the air quality can cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. The most vulnerable, including children and the elderly, are particularly at risk.
While the overall AQI remained in the ‘very poor’ category, some areas of Delhi experienced even worse conditions. Anand Vihar, a known pollution hotspot, recorded an AQI of 421, which falls into the ‘severe’ category. Other neighboring cities like Noida and Ghaziabad also registered ‘very poor’ air quality with AQIs of 331 and 321, respectively. In contrast, Greater Noida (288) and Gurugram (244) experienced slightly better conditions, with air quality in the ‘poor’ category. Faridabad recorded a ‘moderate’ AQI of 198.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light rains or drizzles in Delhi and its neighboring areas, raising hopes for a potential improvement in air quality. The weather agency also forecasts that the maximum and minimum temperatures will likely settle around 29 and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively. The minimum temperature on Sunday was 15.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest recorded in October in the past two years and 1.4 notches below normal.
In the face of the persistent smog, the Delhi government is preparing to implement cloud seeding between October 28 and 30, hoping that induced rainfall will help wash away the thick smog that blankets the city every winter. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that Delhi is likely to witness its first artificial rain on October 29, provided that cloudy conditions are favorable. The cloud-seeding project, a collaborative effort between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, and the Delhi government, aims to explore artificial rainfall as a method to reduce particulate-pollution levels in the city during the post-Diwali smog season.
In addition to potential rain, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has launched the second phase of its "mist sprayer project" to combat rising pollution levels. This initiative, which involves mounting mist sprayers on electric poles to release fine droplets of treated water, aims to settle dust and particulate matter, thereby improving air quality.
The current situation is part of a larger trend of fluctuating but generally improving air quality in Delhi between 2020 and 2025. While stricter pollution control measures and changing weather patterns have contributed to some progress, the city continues to experience severe air quality deterioration during the winter months. Seasonal spikes are caused by crop stubble burning in nearby states, emissions from vehicles and industries, and weather conditions that trap pollutants close to the ground.
