According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2022, the air pollution in southern cities remains below the pre-pandemic level but is losing the gains because of a rise in toxicity, especially in winters. With the sea and well-ventilated atmosphere, southern states are at an advantage over northern India in fighting pollution.
Difficult weather circumstances exacerbate the dangerous air. For Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast mostly cloudy skies with isolated cold wave conditions and shallow morning fog, with minimum temperatures of about 5 degrees Celsius. It is anticipated that winds will continue to be weak, mostly from the northwest, with speeds of less than 12 kmph, which will not significantly disperse the deeply ingrained pollutants. This smog crisis’s timing highlights a concerning pattern that the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently examined. Its assessment, which was made public earlier this week, evaluated annual and early winter trends in air quality and found increasing toxicity and a deteriorating state in the NCR’s smaller towns.
Despite a reduced role from seasonal farm fires, Delhi’s AQI has veered into “very poor” to “severe” levels, underscoring the dominance of local emitters like vehicles and combustion processes. “Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. However, more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy,” stated Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE, in the report.
Delhi residents woke up to another “very poor” morning on Friday as the national capital's air quality index (AQI) deteriorated further from Thursday evening’s levels. According to the data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, Delhi’s average AQI was recorded at 324 at 7:05 AM on Friday morning. This is 20 points up from 304 recorded on Thursday evening, plummeting the city further into the “very poor” category. Thirty-one of Delhi’s forty AQI monitoring stations recorded the pollution levels in the “very poor” category, with RK Puram topping the charts at 374. It was followed closely by Bawana and Nehru Nagar, which showed AQI levels at 373 and 366, respectively. The Mandir Marg monitoring station showed the lowest AQI in the city at 222, followed by NSIT, Dwarka, with an average AQI of 266, all still in the “poor” category. Cold wave warning in Delhi A mainly cloudy sky with shallow fog in the morning and cold wave conditions at isolated places have been predicted for Friday by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the minimum temperature is expected to settle at 5 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature, which had stood at 23.1 degrees Celsius, is expected to drop to 23 degrees Celsius. The predominant surface wind is likely to be from the northwest direction, with wind speeds of up to 10 kmph during the morning hours, it added. The wind speed will increase, becoming less than 12 kmph from the northwest direction in the afternoon, and then decrease, reaching less than 10 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night. New report exposes growing toxicity of the air A new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. According to a report released by the CSE on Monday, Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to the very poor to severe range despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, indicating the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources. "Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. However, more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE, said in the CSE report.
Delhi AQI causes: दिल्ली में प्रदूषण कम होने का नाम नहीं ले रहा. अभी भी यहां का एक्यूआई बेहद खराब श्रेणी में है. प्रदूषण को लेकर न केवल पर्यावरण और स्वास्थ्य विशेषज्ञ बल्कि अन्य संस्थानों से जुड़े लोग भी चिंता जता चुके हैं और दिल्ली से कुछ दिनों के लिए दूर रहने की सलाह तक दे चुके हैं. इसके प्रभाव से लगभग सभी बीमारियों के मरीजों की संख्या बढ़ रही है. जबकि रेस्पिरेटरी और फेफड़ों से जुड़े मरीजों की हालत गंभीर होती जा रही है. हालांकि सबसे बड़ा सवाल है कि दिल्ली में ये प्रदूषण कहां से आ रहा है? आखिर क्यों दिल्ली-एनसीआर का एक्यूआई सर्दी आते ही इतना खराब हो जाता है? दिल्ली स्थित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट लगातार दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण के कारणों की खोज करने के साथ ही समाधानों की तलाश कर रहा है. सीएसई के वायु प्रदूषण विशेषज्ञ विवेक चट्टोपाध्याय से जानते हैं दिल्ली में हर सर्दी में आने वाली इस आफत का कारण क्या है और इससे बचाव के क्या उपाय हैं? विवेक चट्टोपाध्याय बताते हैं कि दिल्ली की बेहद खराब एयर क्वालिटी के पीछे कई कारण हैं. राजधानी के प्रदूषण में सिर्फ दिल्ली नहीं बल्कि कई अन्य क्षेत्रों और शहरों की भी बराबर भागीदार है. एक स्टडी के मुताबिक यहां के प्रदूषण में दिल्ली का लगभग योगदान महज 30 फीसदी है, जबकि एनसीआर की भी इतनी ही 30 फीसदी है और बाहरी क्षेत्रों की 40 फीसदी हिस्सेदारी है.
इस साल खेतों में पराली जलाने की घटनाएं कम होने के बावजूद अक्टूबर और नवंबर में दिल्ली की वायु गुणवत्ता अब भी खराब है. इसका प्रमुख कारण वाहन प्रदूषण है, दिल्ली स्थित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के ताज़ा विश्लेषण से पता चलता है. विश्लेषण के अनुसार, वास्तविक समय के वायु प्रदूषण डेटा ने दिखाया कि महीन कण या पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (पीएम2.5) के स्तर – जो एक प्रमुख प्रदूषक है – ट्रैफिक के पीक समय में नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड के स्तर में होने वाले रोज़ाना उतार-चढ़ाव समान ही रहे. ये दोनों गैसें मुख्यतः वाहनों से निकलती हैं. विश्लेषण में पाया गया कि पिछले कुछ सालों में दिल्ली-एनसीआर में और भी ‘प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट’ सामने आए हैं, और बहादुरगढ़ जैसे छोटे शहर अब इस सूची में शामिल हो गए हैं, क्योंकि यहां पहले की तुलना में अधिक घना स्मॉग देखा जा रहा है.
India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims for a 20–30% reduction in particulate pollution by 2024 (revised to 40% by 2026). While there has been some progress — a 19.3% drop in particulate pollution in 2022 compared with 2021, according to EPIC — Delhi continues to struggle with enforcement, coordination, and fund utilisation. Between 2019–20 and 2023–24, only 29.5% of NCAP funds were effectively used, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Delhi is engulfed in a thick, choking smog fuelled by crop-residue burning in neighbouring states, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and road dust. For years, hazardous air quality has become almost routine, putting residents’ health at risk. Meanwhile, Beijing — once notorious as the “smog capital of the world” — has transformed its air in just over a decade. Coordinated policies, strict enforcement, and bold reforms have turned the grey city skies blue, offering a stark contrast to Delhi’s perennial haze.
Air pollution is one of the major issues that people living in Delhi NCR are currently facing. The government has been imposing bans on vehicles and construction work from time to time whenever they see a spike in AQI. The Centre for Science and Environment has now released a new analysis in which they mentioned that the peak pollution levels have been lower this winter so far when compared to previous years, but the average pollution levels remain largely the same.
The paddy harvesting season for 2025 officially ended on November 30. Punjab and Haryana recorded a 90% reduction in stubble burning incidents this year compared to 2021. In fact, farm fires in the two States declined to their lowest levels in five years in 2025.
दिल्ली और एनसीआर में इस साल सर्दियों की शुरुआत के साथ ही प्रदूषण का स्तर और भी भयावह हो गया है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट बताती है कि राजधानी में हवा की गुणवत्ता लगातार गिर रही है, जहरीले कण बढ़ रहे हैं और पिछले वर्षों में जो मामूली सुधार देखा गया था, वह अब पूरी तरह ठहर गया है. रिपोर्ट यह भी बताती है कि एनसीआर के छोटे शहरों में प्रदूषण और गहराता जा रहा है, जहां नए-नए हॉटस्पॉट बन रहे हैं. कम पराली जलने के बावजूद हवा का बेहद खराब होना साफ संकेत है कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण के स्थानीय स्रोत अब सबसे बड़ा खतरा बन चुके हैं.
Winter in Kohima may be bitterly cold, but it is making headlines for quite the opposite reason. Recently, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth revealed in its report that Kohima recorded higher-than-normal minimum temperatures on 98% of monsoon days between June and September, making it the highest among 34 state capitals assessed, followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu at 91 per cent. The report went on to say that the state capital recorded 53 days of extreme weather events and eight deaths between January and September this year, against 46 days of excessive weather in 2024 (26 deaths), 19 days in 2023 (17 deaths) and 15 days in 2022 (10 deaths). With winter and the festive season here, the report has failed to spark interest for discussion. However, the changing weather pattern, which is evident in the rise of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cloudbursts, droughts, flash floods, etc., over the years, should serve as a warning of a potential increase in such events and with more intensity. It is a matter of grave concern that requires attention because the cost of ignoring this change can be heavy, affecting everything from food to public health to water. A rise in temperature during monsoon can result in erratic weather conditions, including floods and droughts, which will in turn increase the risk of crop failures, heat-related illnesses and waterborne diseases, as well as natural calamities like landslides. For a state like Nagaland, where agriculture and allied activities are the backbone of the economy, with a significant majority of the population still depending on it for livelihood. Many farmers continue to practise traditional methods of farming, particularly jhuming and terrace cultivation. They rely on monsoon rains to grow crops. So, any change in the monsoon pattern can have a detrimental impact on food production and subsequently cause a food crisis. This calls for the need to build resilience against climate change. Strategies such as adapting to the risks posed by extreme weather events, transitioning from traditional to more profitable farming methods, and implementing early warning systems can help mitigate damage. The government should address climate change by implementing climate-friendly policies, such as transitioning to renewable energy, adopting sustainable transportation practices, and safeguarding the environment. The implications of a warmer monsoon should not be underestimated.
The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi’s air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the CSE said in a report released on Monday. “Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. “What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated”, says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE. This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board. Meanwhile, CPCB on Tuesday categorised Delhi AQI (Air Quality Index) as ‘Very Poor’. The AQI in Delhi is reported to be around 304, according to the latest data. Most of the areas were seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The AQI in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi was around 383, categorised as ‘Very Poor’ by CPCB, and the area was seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The area around Akshardham Temple was also seen blanketed in smog, with the AQI at 383 in the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the CPCB. The ITO area had an AQI of about 331, categorised as ‘Very Poor’, by CPCB while the AQI for the Ghazipur area was reported to be 383, also categorised as ‘Very Poor’. According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as “Good”, indicating minimal or no health impact. AQI levels from 51 to 100 fall into the “Satisfactory” category, where air quality remains acceptable, though sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues may experience slight discomfort. The “Moderate” category, ranging from 101 to 200, signals increasing pollution levels that can trigger breathing difficulties among people with asthma, lung conditions, or heart diseases. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered “Poor”, a range in which prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort to most people, not just those with pre-existing health issues. This level has become increasingly common in several parts of the capital during winter. Levels between 301 and 400 are marked as “Very Poor”, posing a risk of respiratory illnesses even to healthy individuals when exposure continues for long periods. The most hazardous category, “Severe,” includes AQI values from 401 to 500. At this stage, air quality becomes dangerous for everyone.-ANI
Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report. Check Delhi's areawise AQI levels here Delhi's toxic quality due to local pollution sources: CSE Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report released on Monday."Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. "What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated", says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE.This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board.
The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the CSE said in a report released on Monday. "Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. "What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated", says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE. This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board.
Dr Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) at Centre for Science and Environment had earlier told The Indian Express that the long-term efficacy and the impact of dust suppressants need to be studied and no information is available on this as of now. On an average, around 3,000 km of roads in Delhi are being mechanically swept every day with the help of water sprinklers to reduce loose dust in a bid to tackle dust pollution – considered to be one of the major contributors to air pollution in the Capital. However, this may not be enough. According to a study conducted by Enviro Policy Research India (EPRI) in association with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), chemical dust suppressants, and not water, have shown higher effectiveness in reducing particulate matter. The study, commissioned by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2018, showed that the use of chemical dust suppressants had 50-60% higher efficacy than the use of water, which recorded an efficacy of 25-30%. The CPCB, which spent around Rs 2.97 lakh on the study, had recently quoted this study while replying to an RTI filed by Noida-based social activist Amit Gupta. However, experts flagged disadvantages that come with the use of chemical dust suppressants. While these can be used on road surfaces that see minimal disturbance, concerns have also been raised about the likely impact of chemicals on public health with poorly regulated application estimated to “trigger hazardous environmental consequences”.
Chief spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central and Delhi governments over the worsening pollution levels in the national capital. Dhaliwal said that for several years, as part of a well planned conspiracy, the Central government, and now even the Delhi government, has been blaming the farmers of Punjab for the pollution there and defaming them, but the truth of both these governments has now come out in front of everyone. Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the data presented yesterday in the Lok Sabha by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has made everything clear. The Union Minister himself informed the House that stubble burning incidents in Punjab have reduced by up to 90 per cent. "This statement proves that the way the BJP and the Delhi government have been creating noise by holding Punjab solely responsible for Delhi's pollution was completely false and politically motivated," said Dhaliwal. He said that the truth is that the main reason behind Delhi's rising pollution is its own industrial waste. He said that a reputed organisation working on environmental issues, Centre for Science and Environment or CSE, has clearly stated in its report that the real cause of Delhi's pollution is industrial waste and the smoke emitted from fires in the mountains of garbage. Dhaliwal held the Delhi government directly responsible for this. He questioned Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa, asking them to tell the people of Delhi that when stubble burning in Punjab has become negligible, then who is now responsible for Delhi's pollution?