Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens to 189, Just Short of ‘Poor’ Category; Likely to Deteriorate Further After October 15

Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened to 189 on Monday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — placing the capital’s air in the “moderate” category. The level is just 11 points away from slipping into the “poor” zone, which would mark the city’s first such reading since June 11.

On Sunday, Delhi’s average AQI stood at 167, improving slightly from Saturday’s 199, aided by consistent winds of 10–15 km/h.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘moderate’ range on October 13–14 and deteriorate to ‘poor’ on October 15, staying there for nearly a week thereafter.

🔹 AQI Scale and Seasonal Trend

The CPCB classifies air quality as follows:

• 0–50: Good

• 51–100: Satisfactory

• 101–200: Moderate

• 201–300: Poor

• 301–400: Very Poor

• 401–500: Severe

Air quality in the capital typically worsens in October, following the retreat of the southwest monsoon, lower temperatures, and slower wind speeds. This seasonal dip coincides with stubble burning in northwestern states and the festival season, when firecrackers further add to the pollution load.

🔹 Firecracker Rules and Concerns

The Delhi government has sought permission to allow green firecrackers, submitting an affidavit to the court detailing its plans to curb the sale and use of banned traditional ones and to raise public awareness.

Last week, the Supreme Court remarked that a complete ban on bursting firecrackers in Delhi-NCR was “neither practical nor ideal,” citing frequent violations and calling for a “balancing of equities.”

However, environmental activists remain skeptical. “Even when green firecrackers were allowed in the past, conventional ones were being burst. QR codes did not help, and agencies simply turned a blind eye,” activist Bhavreen Kandhari told Hindustan Times earlier.

With the onset of the festive season and stubble burning picking up in Punjab and Haryana, experts warn that Delhi’s air quality may soon enter its annual toxic phase, making the coming weeks crucial for pollution control efforts.