As pollution levels in Delhi continue to be severe, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday claimed the Capital has registered best best-ever average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the period January-October.
It also said the average AQI was the best ever during the eight years from 2018-2025 (barring 2020 — the year of lockdown due to Covid).
The CAQM said the average AQI of Delhi for the period January — October during the current year has been recorded as 170 as against 184 in 2024, 172 in 2023, 187 in 2022, 179 in 2021, 156 in 2020, 192 in 2019 and 201 in 2018 respectively, during the corresponding period.
From September to October, Delhi–NCR shifts from monsoon-influenced winds that are relatively stronger and carry humid air to a post-monsoon regime where winds become weaker and the air turns drier and more stable. These meteorological conditions reduce pollutant dispersion and often lead to an increase in air pollution levels.
This period (January — October) in 2025 did not witness even a single day with an average AQI more than 400 (‘Severe’ or ‘Severe+’ categories). There were 03, 03, 01, 06, 02, 09 and 07 such days during the years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively.
Moreover, this period also witnessed highest number of ‘Satisfactory’ days ie 79 such days (barring 2020 — the year of lockdown due to Covid), as against 66 days in 2024, 60 days in 2023, 65 days in 2022, 72 days in 2021, 95 days in 2020, 58 days in 2019, and 53 days in 2018, CAQM said.
The period from January — October (upto 29th October) has seen the lowest levels of PM2.5 concentration in Delhi compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 — the year of lockdown due to Covid); Delhi has witnessed PM2.5 average of 72 µg/m3 in the current year as against 83 in 2024, 76 in 2023, 81 in 2022, 82 in 2021, 71 in 2020, 88 in 2019 and 93 in 2018 respectively.
Likewise, the period January — October (upto 29th October) also witnessed the lowest levels of PM10 concentration in Delhi compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 — the year of lockdown due to Covid), recording an average of 166 µg/m3 in the current year as against 186 in 2024, 174 in 2023, 191 in 2022, 182 in 2021, 147 in 2020, 197 in 2019 and 216 in 2018.
The AQM is working closely with various stakeholders to take effective measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and to improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR and efforts would be intensified with an endeavour to further improve upon the air quality scenario in Delhi-NCR in the coming days.