Delhi AQI Today: Residents of the capital woke up to “poor” air quality, with the air quality index (AQI) two notches below the “very poor” range at 299 on 1 December. This follows a significant improvement in air quality witnessed on Sunday with the AQI at 279, after a period of 24 days of “very bad” air, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
A total of 23 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded AQI in the “very poor range” at 7:05 a.m. Monday morning, according to the Sameer app. Visuals from ITO, India Gate, Kartavya Path and Anand Vihar area show a toxic layer of smog covering the state capital. While NSIT Dwarka recorded the best AQI at 195, Nehru Nagar, Rohini and Bawana area recorded the worst air quality.
Delhi records the best AQI in the last 8 years between January and November
Delhi recorded the lowest average AQI in the last 11 months of the year, that is between January and November. Delhi’s average AQI during this period represents a consistent improvement over the year at 187.
Last year, the average AQI was registered at 201, in 2023 at 190, in 2022 at 199, in 2021 at 197, in 2019 at 203 and in 2018 at 213. This data does not include data from 2020, the year of the COVID-19 lockdown.
This year, air quality climbed to the “severe” category for only three days, which was observed last month. Meanwhile, the daily average AQI climbed above 400 for a total of 11 days last year, 12 in 2023 and 17 in 2021. It is important to note that no day in 2025 recorded an AQI level above 450, which is in stark contrast to the values recorded in previous years.
In terms of pollution indicators, ANI reported that there was a significant improvement in the average concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 in Delhi, which was the lowest in the last two years.
CAQM reinforces GRAP Stage 4 measures with GRAP Stage 3
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) of NCR on 29 November revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR. According to the latest guidelines in the press release, measures for the “severe” category of AQI were applied under GRAP Phase III under GRAP Phase IV.
Notably, the decision to operate with 50 percent in public, municipal and private offices will be taken by the state governments of NCR and GNCTD, while the remaining employees can work from home. For operational requirements at central government offices, the central government will decide on permission to work from home for employees.
