Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi-NCR witnessed a fresh pollution crisis on Diwali night as thick smoke engulfed the national capital and surrounding regions, raising serious concerns about public health and air quality. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi reached 373, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category, while several localities recorded pollution levels above 400, falling into the ‘Severe’ category. Reduced visibility and a blanket of smoke across the region highlighted the growing challenge of controlling air pollution during the festive season.
Delhi-NCR Air Quality Deteriorates Despite GRAP Stage 3 Restrictions
Ahead of Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR as a precautionary measure. The decision came amid forecasts indicating that air quality could deteriorate further during the festival. Despite the implementation of pollution control measures, the use of firecrackers and other pollution sources added to concerns over the region’s deteriorating air quality. The situation has once again raised questions about the effectiveness of existing restrictions and their enforcement on the ground.
Delhi AQI Reaches 373, Noida and Ghaziabad Also Record Poor Air Quality
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data available on the Sameer app, Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 373 at 11:05 PM on November 8, 2026, in the ‘Very Poor’ category. Other major cities across the National Capital Region also recorded unhealthy air quality levels. Noida reported an AQI of 319, while Ghaziabad recorded 360. Gurugram’s AQI stood at 280, and Faridabad recorded 297.
Several areas of Delhi, including Alipur, Bawana, Burari, Chandni Chowk, Mundka, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini and Vivek Vihar, recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating ‘Severe’ pollution. The Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) also indicated that Delhi’s air quality could enter the ‘Severe’ category from November 9 and remain at alarming levels for the following few days.
Delhi Air Pollution: What Do Different AQI Categories Mean?
According to CPCB classification, the Air Quality Index is divided into six categories based on pollution levels and their potential impact on health.
0–50: Good
51–100: Satisfactory
101–200: Moderate
201–300: Poor
301–400: Very Poor
401–500: Severe
An AQI above 300 indicates significant health risks, particularly for people with respiratory or heart-related conditions, children and older citizens. Prolonged exposure to such polluted air can affect even otherwise healthy individuals.
Environmentalists Raise Questions Over Pollution Data and Monitoring
The deteriorating air quality has also brought renewed attention to the reliability of pollution monitoring data and the implementation of environmental regulations. Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari has questioned whether official AQI figures accurately reflect the pollution experienced by residents in different neighbourhoods. She pointed out that several citizens use independent air quality monitors and regularly compare readings with official monitoring stations.
According to Kandhari, visible smoke, continuous firecracker activity and readings from independent monitoring devices raise concerns about the actual pollution burden. She also argued that a citywide AQI average may not accurately represent the air quality experienced in individual neighbourhoods.
Firecracker Restrictions Raise Questions Over Ground-Level Enforcement
Kandhari also criticised the enforcement of restrictions on firecrackers, questioning the effectiveness of announcing limited time windows when violations continue. She expressed concern over the impact of toxic air on children’s developing lungs and overall health, stressing the need for transparent air quality monitoring and stronger enforcement of pollution control measures.
The activist also alleged gaps in pollution monitoring data on November 6. According to her, at least 11 monitoring stations experienced data gaps, including 22 missing hourly PM2.5 readings and 27 missing PM10 readings. Monitoring stations at IIT Delhi, Nangloi and NSIT Dwarka reportedly experienced significant outages, including during evening hours.
Delhi Air Pollution: Crisis Highlights Need for Stronger Action
The worsening air quality during Diwali has once again exposed the challenges facing Delhi-NCR in controlling seasonal pollution. While restrictions under GRAP and other pollution control measures are intended to reduce emissions, their effectiveness depends heavily on implementation, monitoring and public cooperation. The situation also highlights the need for reliable air quality data, stricter action against violations, better pollution monitoring infrastructure and greater public awareness.
As winter approaches, Delhi-NCR faces the recurring challenge of dangerous pollution levels. The immediate priority remains protecting public health and ensuring that pollution control measures translate into measurable improvements in the air people breathe.
