Not even a single day with average AQI more than 400, besides witnessing highest number of ‘Satisfactory’ days, during January – September period in 2025
Delhi: Aided by favourable meteorological conditions and efforts by stakeholders concerned, the average AQI of Delhi for the period January – September during the current year has been recorded as 164. This was achieved as against 178 in 2024, 167 in 2023, 184 in 2022, 180 in 2021, 144 in 2020, 188 in 2019 and 193 in 2018 respectively, during the corresponding period.
The average AQI for the Monsoon Season (July to September) of current year has also been the best during the 8 years i.e., from 2018 to 2025 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid). For the monsoon period (July – September), Delhi recorded an average AQI of 91 in 2025, 91 in 2024, 103 in 2023, 95 in 2022, 99 in 2021, 88 in 2020, 106 in 2019 and 109 in 2018 respectively;
Further, this period (January – September) in 2025 did not witness even a single day with average AQI more than 400 (‘Severe’ or ‘Severe+’ categories). There were 03, 03, 01, 06, 02, 07 and 06 such days during the years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Moreover, this period also witnessed highest number of ‘Satisfactory’ days i.e. 75 such days (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid), as against 66 days in 2024, 59 days in 2023, 61 days in 2022, 69 days in 2021, 95 days in 2020, 54 days in 2019, and 53 days in 2018;
The period from January – September (upto 28th September) 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 69 µg/m3 in the current year as against 81 in 2024, 73 in 2023, 80 in 2022, 83 in 2021, 65 in 2020, 85 in 2019 and 89 in 2018 respectively.
Likewise, the period January – September (upto 28th September) 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). An average of 161 µg/m3 was recorded in the current year as against 181 in 2024, 169 in 2023, 190 in 2022, 183 in 2021, 133 in 2020, 194 in 2019 and 208 in 2018;
CAQM is working closely with various stakeholders concerned 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.
