The air quality in Delhi has shown slight deterioration this January compared to last year, with the average Air Quality Index till January 30 standing at 307, compared to 306 during the same period in 2025, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The CREA’s analysis showed that January 2025, with an average AQI of 306, was the best January when it came to air pollution since 2022, when the monthly average AQI stood at 279.

January 2026 now ranks as the second-best January since then.

In January 2026 so far, Delhi has recorded two “moderate” air quality days, 12 “poor” days, 14 “very poor” days and two “severe” days, the analysis showed.

In comparison, January 2025 had recorded two “moderate” days, 13 “poor” days and 16 “very poor” days, with no “severe” air quality days reported during the month.

The analysis indicated that the absence of “severe” days in January 2025 and the presence of two “severe” days in January this year may have contributed to the slightly higher average AQI in 2026.

The air quality early warning system has predicted “very poor” air quality for January 31.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, 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”.

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New Delhi:

With dense fog enveloping Delhi and the air quality index hovering dangerously close to the ‘severe’ category, the Centre’s anti-pollution panel, the Commission for Air Quality Management, has reimposed stricter pollution curbs in the capital and surrounding areas, including the National Capital Region, under GRAP-3 and GRAP-4.

Curbs under GRAP-3 were revoked only on Sunday and the measures under GRAP-4 have not been imposed since December 24. 

In its order, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) noted that the AQI in Delhi, which was at 275 on Wednesday, rose sharply to 386 on Thursday because of dense foggy conditions and low temperatures leading to “extremely low mixing height and ventilation coefficient for dispersion of pollutants”.

It noted that the AQI had climbed to 396 at 6 pm and was likely to breach the 400 mark.

“Accordingly, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality and in pursuance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directives, the Sub Committee on GRAP hereby decides to straightway invoke ALL actions under Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality of Delhi) & also Stage-IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality of Delhi) of extant Schedule of GRAP, with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in Delhi-NCR, in addition to the Stage-I and II actions already in force,” the CAQM said in its order. 

The Supreme Court had earlier directed that GRAP Stage 3 measures must be implemented if the AQI exceeds 350 and Stage 4 measures reintroduced if it crosses 400.

What’s allowed and what’s not:

• The use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars (4-wheelers) will be restricted in Delhi and nearby NCR districts.
• Classes in schools, with a possible exception for students of Classes 10 and 12, will have to mandatorily be shifted to hybrid mode – “both in physical and online mode (wherever online mode is feasible) in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar”.
• NCR state governments/Delhi government will decide whether to permit 50% of employees in government, municipal, and private offices to work from home.
• The central government has the authority to decide whether to allow its employees to work from home.
• Entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/providing essential services) is banned. All LNG/CNG /Electric/BS-VI Diesel trucks shall, however, be permitted to enter Delhi.
• Light Commercial Vehicles registered outside Delhi, other than EVs/CNG/BS-VI diesel, can’t enter the capital, except those carrying essential commodities/ providing essential services.
• Delhi-registered BS-IV and below diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles will be prohibited from operating, except for those carrying essential services.
• State governments may consider additional emergency measures like closing colleges and other educational institutions and stopping non-emergency commercial activities, restrictions on running of vehicles, and the odd-even rule for cars.

Residents of Delhi and surrounding areas woke up to dense fog on Wednesday, leading to six flights being diverted, more than 300 flights being delayed and departures being briefly put on hold early in the morning at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. 

Several trains were running late and road traffic also slowed down in Delhi and nearby cities due to the reduced visibility. 

Both daytime and night-time temperatures in Delhi have also plummeted, contributing to the worsening AQI. 

New Delhi:

Pollution curbs under GRAP-3 have been revoked in Delhi and the National Capital Region after air quality improved in the area following continuous rain since Friday morning. 

“Owing to the favourable meteorological conditions and continuous rains since early morning, the AQI of Delhi has been continuously improving and has been recorded as 348 at 5:00 PM and 341 at 6:00 PM & 334 at 7:00 PM,” the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which is the pollution watchdog for the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, said in a statement. 

The CAQM said that as per the air quality and weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department and IIT Madras, the AQI of Delhi is expected to remain in the ‘poor’ category (between 200 and 300) for the next few days. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Stringent anti-pollution measure GRAP-4 has been revoked in Delhi and the neighbouring region amid a dip in pollution levels. The air quality index or AQI of Delhi has been “continuously improving” since morning, said the committee on GRAP curbs. At 5 PM, the AQI was “very poor” at 364, which is 36 points below the limits decided by the Supreme Court for invoking Stage-4.

Curbs under Stages 1, 2 and 3, however, will remain in force to prevent any further worsening of the air quality, said the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). “Actions under Stage I, II, and III of the revised GRAP shall remain invoked and be implemented, monitored, and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further,” the commission said in its order.

Stage-4 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) were reimposed, nearly 10 days after the measures were eased to Stage-2, in the national capital and its adjoining areas last week (December 16) when it breached the 400 mark. 

The AQI is likely to remain in the “very poor” category in the coming days due to favourable meteorological conditions and wind speed, according to the air quality and weather forecast provided by the India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

Measures under GRAP-4 include a ban on all construction activities, entry of non-essential polluting trucks into Delhi and mandatory shifting of school classes, except for classes 10 and 12, to hybrid mode.

The Graded Response Action Plan is a set of emergency measures implemented in the national capital region to battle air pollution based on the severity of the Air Quality Index.

Every year, Delhi sees a dip in the air quality with dipping temperatures due to low wind speeds, vehicle emissions and the burning of crop remains and firewood.

Recently, the Delhi government imposed a round-the-year ban on firecrackers which led the Supreme Court to direct Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to enforce a similar move.

New Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated on Sunday with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching the ‘severe’ category at 409 at 4 pm, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

On Saturday, the AQI was recorded at 370, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.

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’.

The capital on Sunday experienced dangerously high levels of PM2.5, the primary pollutant, with 37 out of 39 monitoring stations reporting air quality in the ‘severe plus’ category.

Some areas recorded AQI levels as high as 474.

PM2.5 particles, which are 2.5 micrometres or smaller in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing significant health risks.

Delhi remains under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes stringent anti-pollution measures such as a complete ban on construction activities and restrictions on non-essential polluting trucks entering the city.

Meanwhile, the weather office has forecast cloudy sky with light rain on Monday, with temperatures expected to range from a high of 20 degrees Celcius to a low of 7 degrees Celcius.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated further during the day, breaching the 400 mark, and dipping into the ‘Severe+’ category, forcing the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Centre’s anti-pollution panel, to impose GRAP 4 restrictions in the national capital and its adjoining areas from tonight.

This comes hours after CAQM imposed GRAP 3 during the day when the air quality was hovering over 300. During the day, the panel said measures in stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have been implemented following “highly unfavourable meteorological conditions, including calm winds and very low mixing height”. Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index, which was 379 at 4 pm, which breached the 400 mark around 10 pm.

Later in the evening, the panel said, “Considering the steep rise in the AQI of Delhi owing to highly unfavourable meteorological conditions and absolute calm wind conditions, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP called for an emergency meeting.”

“The Sub-Committee decided to impose Stage-IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of the  GRAP schedule (issued on 13.12.2024) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,” they added.

Meanwhile, schools in Noida will start from 9 am tomorrow due to severe cold and air pollution, operating in a hybrid mode.

What’s Allowed And What’s Not

• Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi. Ban on construction and demolition activities for linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication etc.
• The government can discontinue physical classes, including Classes Vl – lX and Class Xl.
• The government is to decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
• State governments may consider additional emergency measures like the closure of colleges/educational institutions and closure of non-emergency commercial activities, permitting the running of vehicles on the odd-even basis of registration numbers etc.
• Children, the elderly and those with respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or other chronic diseases to avoid outdoor activities and stay indoors.
• Ban on all construction and demolition activities, including public projects such as highways and flyovers

Last month the air quality in Delhi and the surrounding areas was consistently in the ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ category, prompting annual health warnings from medical professionals and triggering a rush of cases before the Supreme Court asking for directions to the government.

Over the past several weeks a top court bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih have held several hearings on the annual air quality crisis, looking at issues from farm fires (i.e., farmers burning agricultural waste) to ineffective bans on polluting vehicles.

In some cases, the court criticised the authorities for not following the law; for example, when GRAP-IV was in effect, the court slammed officials continuing to allow non-essential construction activities that are not permitted at that time. The court also had questions for the Delhi government for not stopping vehicles carrying non-essential goods from entering the city.

The court also questioned the Delhi government and the CAQM, a central government panel, for not ordering stricter anti-pollution measures once the AQI had crossed the 300-mark.

New Delhi:

Supreme Court ordered 24×7 data on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana after farmers started timing the crop burning with the overpass of NASA satellites over the region, a problem first highlighted by NDTV two weeks ago. 

The Supreme Court said the situation must be continuously monitored since farmers are burning their crops after 1:30 pm, the overpass time of NASA satellites over the subcontinent. This led to a severe undercount of crop burning data, especially in Punjab, while the Centre of Air Quality Management (CAQM) said there had been a 70 per cent reduction in numbers.

India currently uses data from NASA satellites that pass twice a day over Punjab and Haryana to monitor farm fires. The CAQM had said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was asked in January to develop a system to study burnt areas to count farm fires.

Read here: Exclusive: Wary Of NASA Satellites, How Farmers In Punjab Time Crop-Burning, Scientist Explains

Farmers Avoiding NASA Satellites

Scientist Hiren Jethva at NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre, in a series of interviews with NDTV, was one of the first experts who highlighted the issue and how farmers are timing crop burning and said the number of “farm fires have not gone down”. “We use the afternoon satellite overpass time data from NASA Satellites like Suomi NPP and Aqua. They overpass the region around 1:30-2:00 pm but somehow they (farmers) have learnt that they can bypass the satellite overpass time and can burn the crop residue in the late afternoon. This is confirmed by the South Korean geostationary satellite that the majority of the crop burning happens after 2 pm once the NASA satellites overpass the region when there is no surveillance, but the fires cannot be hidden from geostationary satellites which take a picture of the region every five minutes.”

Today’s GEO-KOMSAT A2 satellite images visually convince of late afternoon burning acticitivities in NW India, avoiding NASA satellite surveillance around 1:30 PM IST @VishnuNDTV@CBhattacharji@parthaabosu@jksmith34@UrbanEmissions@avoiland@moesgoipic.twitter.com/BJsidjNqzy

— Hiren Jethva (@hjethva05) October 29, 2024

“Still, if we look at the geostationary images, there are many farm fires after 2 pm,” he told NDTV, adding that “the data from geostationary satellite is sensitive to the thermal signal produced by the fire. It lasts for at least four hours.”

Follow-up with Satellite Images

NDTV did a follow-up story on the issue, accessing exclusive satellite images, which appeared to confirm the inference made by Mr Jethva through his analysis.

Read here: Has There Been A Major Undercount Of Punjab Farm Fires? What Satellite Pics Show

NDTV accessed satellite images of a small area west of Amritsar, to understand the extent of farm fires on November 18 at 2:18 pm. It may look like an image of a warzone, but the smoke is not from the impact of bombs but from farmers burning their agriculture stubble. The red circles indicate the location of farm fires in a small area lying west of the Amritsar airport.

The satellite imagery experts consulted by NDTV, counted at least 26 independent farm fires in the north and west of Amritsar on November 18, shortly after NASA’s satellites with fire-detecting sensors had completed their overpass of the subcontinent.

NASA Data

The yellow box next to Amristar is the location of the satellite images accessed by NDTV. The red dots are farm fires which have been detected by sensors from NASA World View, data from which is extensively used in India. The fire sensor data was taken at 2:18 pm on November 18, at the same time when other satellites, except NASA’s, passed over the region.

The images appear to confirm that there is a severe undercount of farm fires in Punjab which contribute significantly to the air pollution load this time of the year when farmers burn their agriculture stubble.

New Delhi:

The Delhi government on Monday directed government, private and civic body-run schools to conduct classes in “hybrid mode” – online and offline – with immediate effect, after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced relaxations under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to mitigate educational disruptions caused by poor air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).

All schools in the NCR had shifted to online lessons on October 18 amid a deterioration in the air quality in the area. On Monday, the Supreme Court had asked the CAQM to consider restarting physical classes in schools and colleges, noting many students lacked mid-day meals and infrastructure to attend online classes.

“Clause 11 of GRAP Stage-III, Clause 5 of GRAP Stage-IV and Clause 8 of GRAP Stage-IV (to the extent it relates to colleges, educational institutions) are relaxed to the extent that State Govts in the NCR and GNCTD shall ensure that all classes upto 12th Standard in schools and those in colleges/educational institutions are conducted in a ‘hybrid’ mode, i.e, both in ‘physical’ and also in an ‘online’ mode, wherever online mode is feasible, in the territorial jurisdiction of the NCT of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar in the NCR. The option to exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians,” a notification issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE), Government of Delhi, said.

“Accordingly, all Heads of Schools of Govt, Govt. Aided, Unaided Recognized Private Schools of DoE, NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Corporation), MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and Delhi Cantonment Board are directed to ensure compliance of the above orders with immediate effect until further orders,” it added.

On Monday, the CAQM permitted educational institutions to operate classes in a “hybrid” format, allowing students to attend either in person or online. “All classes up to 12th standard in schools and those in colleges/educational institutions are to be conducted in a ‘Hybrid’ mode, i.e., both in ‘physical’ and ‘online’ mode, wherever online mode is feasible,” the CAQM announced.

The development came hours after the Supreme Court directed the CAQM to review GRAP restrictions in light of their impact on education. The court also emphasised the need to prioritise education while raising several concerns.

“A large number of students are being deprived of the facility of mid-day meals as schools and anganwadis are closed. A large number of students do not have the facilities to take advantage of online education. Many educational institutions do not have the facilities to provide online education,” the court said.

Additionally, the court observed, “The residences of many students do not have air purifiers, and therefore, there may not be any difference between children sitting at home and those attending school.”

The air quality remained alarming on Monday, with the Capital’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reading soaring to 349 from 318 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s 4pm bulletin.

New Delhi:

Delhi emerged as the most polluted city in India, recording an average PM2.5 level of 243.3 micrograms per cubic metre air, with pollution surging by 19.5 per cent in week-on-week increase, according to a report released on Thursday.

According to the Air Quality Analysis Report by Respirer Living Sciences, which analysed PM2.5 levels across 281 Indian cities from November 3 to 16, Delhi was ranked last, holding position 281.

The prominent pollutant was PM2.5-fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, roughly the width of a human hair.

These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The severe pollution underscores the compounded effects of vehicular emissions, industrial output, and stubble burning.

Combined with cooler winter temperatures, these conditions are trapping pollutants closer to the ground, the report said.

It claimed that Delhi’s pollution was part of a larger trend affecting the Indo-Gangetic Plain and several other northern states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, which also recorded hazardous air quality levels.

The seasonal onset of winter, coupled with temperature inversions and reduced wind speeds, has exacerbated pollution.

Ronak Sutaria, Founder and CEO of Respirer Living Sciences, spoke to PTI about the analysis.

He said the spike in pollution levels every year around November marks a significant departure from the usual pattern, which typically sees such levels between mid-December and February.

“This shift not only highlights an unusual trend but also raises serious concerns about what we might face in the coming months,” he said.

Another observation made was the stark difference in PM2.5 concentrations across the region.

PM2.5 levels in New Delhi’s municipal limits were up to 100 micrograms per cubic metre air higher than in surrounding areas such as Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad, suggesting the presence of localised pollution sources that must need immediate attention.

Sutaria also raised the possibility that these discrepancies could be due to inaccuracies in monitoring systems, which may require further investigation.

While northern cities are grappling with severe pollution, the analysis also highlighted regions in southern and northeastern India that enjoy significantly better air quality.

Cities like Imphal in Manipur (14.2 micrograms per cubic metre air) and Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu (15.0 micrograms per cubic metre air) emerged as examples of cleaner air, benefiting from favorable geography, effective local interventions, and lower industrial activity, it said in analysis.

On the air quality front, Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 371, improving slightly from the previous day’s severe category reading of 419.

On Sunday, Delhi’s air quality was in the severe category, prompting authorities to impose the GRAP-IV measures. However, the situation worsened on Monday and Tuesday, with the AQI exceeding 450, reaching the severe-plus category.

For context, AQI readings are categorised as follows: an AQI between 0 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.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and NCR on Thursday as the air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category, reducing visibility in several parts.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor’, as of 8 am. The Air Quality Index remains in the ‘severe’ category in Anand Vihar at 405, Ashok Vihar at 414, Bawana at 418, Dwarka Sector-8 at 401, Mundka at 413 and Wazirpur at 436.

The AQI measured at Chandni Chowk is 338, IGI Airport (T3) is 370, ITO is 355, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is 354, RK Puram is 387, Okhla Phase 2 is 370, Patparganj is 381, Sonia Vihar is 394 and Aya Nagar is 359, categorized as ‘very poor’.

Some flights were delayed since morning, as per FlightRadar24, while ANI reported several trains either getting late or rescheduled.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the Barapulla area in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Severe’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/CJaVOAr77Y

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), imposing restrictions like bans on truck entry and a halt to public construction projects. The Delhi government announced that all government offices functioning under the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi will operate with 50 per cent of the staff strength and the remaining 50 per cent of staff will work from home.

Further, a per revised GRAP guidelines, it will now be mandatory for NCR states to discontinue physical classes up to Class V under GRAP Stage III and up to Class XII under GRAP Stage IV. Under GRAP Stage IV, a “mask advisory” has been introduced, urging individuals to wear masks when stepping outdoors during periods of hazardous air quality. The revisions come even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to dense fog over Delhi-NCR in the coming days, potentially exacerbating the pollution crisis.

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police directed social media and e-commerce platforms to immediately cease the online sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) amid rising air pollution levels.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the JLN (Jawaharlal Nehru) Stadium in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Very Poor’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/Xt2zOgkpOw

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

Meanwhile, toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj and Okhla Barrage. Visuals also showed fog covering the Taj Mahal amid ‘moderate’ air quality in Agra.

An AQI is considered “poor” between ‘200 and 300’, “very poor” at ‘301 and 400’, “severe” at ‘401-450,” and 450 and above is “severe plus.”

With inputs from agencies