Air quality in Delhi, a part of northern India, falls into the “poor” category.

People walk on Kartavya Path while haze covers Rashtrapati Bhavan. | Photo credit: ANI Video Grab

Air quality in Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 28, 2026) morning slipped to the ‘poor’ category after remaining relatively better for the last three to four days, according to official data.

Several other cities in north India including Meerut, Noida, Ghaziabad also witnessed “poor” air quality, while Panipat was reeling under “very poor” air pollution levels on Wednesday (Oct 28, 2026) morning.

Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 232 (poor) at 9 am on Wednesday (October 28, 2026), according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 197 (mean) at 4 pm on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), a slight increase from Monday’s (October 26, 2026) 174 (mean), which is the Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin, which is considered the daily AQI.

A higher AQI means worse air quality.

Air quality in Delhi is likely to improve over the next two days.

“Air quality is likely to remain at ‘Poor’ from 10/28/2026 before improving to ‘Fair’ from 10/29/2026 to 10/30/2026. The outlook for the next 6 days suggests air quality is likely to fluctuate between ‘Fair’ and ‘Fair’ to ‘Fair’ to ‘Fair’ System for Delhi’.

Every winter, air pollution rises in Delhi-NCR and many parts of the greater Indo-Gangetic plains mainly due to meteorological factors such as lower wind speed and drop in temperature. Added to the existing pollution from vehicles and dust is also pollution from stubble burning during October and November and bursting of firecrackers during the festive season, which worsens air quality.

Published – 28 Oct 2026 10:55 IST