Delhi has recorded its cleanest July in a decade, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 67, which falls into the "Satisfactory" category. This data was released by the Central Pollution Control Board on Wednesday. This marks a significant shift from previous years, where "Poor" to "Severe" air quality levels were more common during the same period. So far in 2025, Delhi has experienced 118 days of "Good," "Satisfactory," or "Moderate" air quality.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa credited the improved air quality to consistent civic operations and coordination across various departments. He stated that this improvement is not just a seasonal occurrence but a direct result of Delhi's multi-agency implementation model, continuous landfill action, intensified sweeping operations, and a clear commitment to outcome-based governance. The Minister also highlighted the active participation of citizens in these efforts.

Among the various monitoring stations in Delhi, Punjabi Bagh reported the lowest AQI at 50, followed by Bawana (51) and Vivek Vihar (55), all of which fall into the "Good" range.

The Delhi government reported that in the last 24 hours, citywide operations have cleared 10,987.21 metric tonnes of garbage and 2,349.7 MT of construction and demolition debris. Additionally, over 6,000 km of roads were cleaned, and over 900 MT of legacy waste was removed from landfills at Bhalswa and Ghazipur.

In related news, Delhi's air quality in May 2025 was the cleanest for the month in over a decade, excluding the lockdown years of 2020 and 2021. The monthly average AQI in May stood at 170, which is classified as "moderate" by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This improvement was attributed to meteorological factors such as frequent rain, gusty winds, and the absence of prolonged dry spells, which helped to lower pollutant concentrations.

However, despite these improvements, a mid-year assessment by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) released in July 2025, indicated that Delhi remained the second most polluted city in India between January and June 2025. The report noted that Delhi recorded 29 days with "very poor" air quality and only three days in the "good" category during this period. The report also emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle Delhi's air pollution, extending efforts beyond the transport and agriculture sectors to include power and industry.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported that the January-March period of 2025 saw the best air quality in the last five years. During the first quarter of 2025, Delhi had 36 days with an AQI below 200, compared to 13 such days in 2021, 27 in 2022, 35 in 2023, and 41 in 2024.

Looking ahead, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts regarding air quality forecasts. While there have been improvements, challenges remain, and sustained efforts are necessary to maintain and further improve Delhi's air quality.