Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement on Sunday, shifting from the "Very Poor" category to "Poor," according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 6:00 AM was recorded at 270, a notable decrease from Saturday's reading of 305. This improvement comes after a prolonged period of approximately 24 days with significantly higher pollution levels. Despite this shift, a layer of smog persists over the city.
The improvement in air quality is attributed to favorable wind direction and speed, along with a reduction in stubble burning in neighboring states. However, forecasts suggest that this relief may be temporary, with air quality expected to revert to the "Very Poor" category in the coming days. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, anticipates that while wind speeds may prevent the AQI from reaching the "Severe" category, the overall situation is likely to remain challenging.
Even with the improved AQI, several areas in Delhi continue to experience high pollution levels. Shadipur recorded the worst AQI at 335, while Mandir Marg had the best AQI at 158. High pollution levels were also recorded in Narela, Jahangirpuri, Nehru Nagar, Vivek Vihar, Bawana, Okhla, and Rohini.
A recent study assessing air quality data across 11 major Indian cities from 2015 to 2025 reveals that no city has achieved safe AQI levels in their annual averages over the past decade. Delhi remains the most polluted city in the study, with air quality consistently falling in the unhealthy range. This underscores the severity and long-term nature of Delhi's air pollution crisis.
Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction activities, and open waste burning are major contributors to Delhi's air pollution. Stubble burning in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana also releases large amounts of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere, further exacerbating the problem. Low wind speeds during winter months hinder the dispersion of these pollutants, trapping them in the lower atmosphere and leading to increased smog. According to the Decision Support System of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, vehicular emissions contributed approximately 18.7 percent to Delhi's pollutants on Saturday, and are expected to contribute around 18.6 percent on Sunday.
The persistent air pollution in Delhi has significant health impacts. Doctors have warned that prolonged exposure to the city's toxic air can reduce a person's lifespan by 6 to 7 years. Respiratory distress is a major concern, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, smokers, and those with pre-existing cardiac conditions.
Efforts to combat air pollution in Delhi have included measures such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which imposes restrictions on construction, industrial activities, and vehicular movement based on air quality levels. Stage III of GRAP, which includes hybrid learning for students up to Class 6 and work-from-home mandates, was recently revoked following the slight improvement in air quality. However, actions under GRAP Stages I and II remain in force, with agencies directed to intensify measures to prevent a return to "Severe" air quality levels. The Delhi government, in partnership with IIT Kanpur, has also explored artificial rain experiments (cloud seeding) as an emergency measure to combat its chronic air pollution crisis.
