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CSE releases new analysis of winter air pollution trends

or most of October and November, pollution levels hovered between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’, fuelled by a rising “toxic cocktail” of PM2.5, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emitted mainly from vehicles and other local sources, has gone unnoticed. The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in Delhi exposes the growing toxicity of the air, stubborn and elevated trends during early winter, 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 new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), at least 22 air-quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded CO levels above permissible limits on more than 30 of the 59 days assessed, with Dwarka Sector 8 logging the highest number of breaches at 55 days, followed by Jahangirpuri and Delhi University’s North Campus, both at 50 days. The analysis also highlights a troubling proliferation of pollution hotspots in the Capital. In 2018, only 13 locations were officially designated as hotspots. Now, several more locations routinely record pollution levels far higher than the city average. Jahangirpuri emerged as Delhi’s most polluted hotspot, with an annual PM2.5 average of 119 µg/m³, or micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Bawana and Wazirpur (113 µg/m³), Anand Vihar (111 µg/m³), and Mundka, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar (101-103 µg/m³). Vivek Vihar, Alipur, Nehru Nagar, Siri Fort, Dwarka Sector 8 and Patparganj were some of the new hotspots flagged by CSE. Smaller NCR towns also recorded more intense and longer smog episodes this year.

National Pollution Control Day 2025: India’s Air Pollution Crisis; The Wake-Up Call

Some days demand reflection not out of ritual, but responsibility. National Pollution Control Day, observed annually on December 2, is one such day — urging us to confront the environmental realities shaping public health in India. It is a day rooted in memory, driven by science, and anchored in the need for collective action. According to Nature, India generates 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Meanwhile, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reports that 70% of urban wastewater remains untreated. Consequences include microplastics entering the food chain, chemical pollution of lakes and rivers, and long-term ecological loss.

BJP Doing Politics in Matters of Pollution and Floods, Maligning Punjab Under a Conspiracy: Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Dhaliwal said that the truth is that the main reason behind Delhi’s rising pollution is its own industrial waste. He said that the reputed organization working on environmental issues, CSE (Centre for Science and Environment), has also 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. BJP Doing Politics in Matters of Pollution and Floods, Maligning Punjab Under a Conspiracy: Kuldeep Dhaliwal Statement of Union Environment Minister in Parliament Exposed the Lies of BJP and Delhi Government: Dhaliwal Says, Centre Admitted a 90% Reduction in Stubble Burning Cases in Punjab; Industrial Waste and Garbage Mountains Responsible for Delhi’s Pollution Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government and the Delhi government over the worsening pollution levels in Delhi. He 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 Delhi’s pollution and defaming them, but now the truth of both these governments has 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%. 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. Dhaliwal said that the truth is that the main reason behind Delhi’s rising pollution is its own industrial waste. He said that the reputed organization working on environmental issues, CSE (Centre for Science and Environment), has also 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’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa, asking them to tell the people of Delhi: “when stubble burning in Punjab has become negligible, then who is responsible for Delhi’s pollution now?” Dhaliwal also cornered the central government over the issue of floods in Punjab and said that earlier the Centre blamed Punjab for the floods. The Centre argued that the state faced floods due to uncleared drains and illegal mining. But the statements given in the House by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav have exposed this lie as well. Dhaliwal said that the Union Minister clearly admitted that the floods in Punjab were caused solely by a natural disaster, not because of mining or anything else.

Gurgaon sees cleanest November in six years, shows data, but is it the full picture?

Gurgaon: The city has recorded its best annual air quality in Nov since 2020 even as several monitors were either offline or showed unlikely dips on visibly hazy days. The city's average AQI stood at 282 (poor), an improvement from 293 (poor) in 2024. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the annual average of Nov was 304 in 2020, 357 in 2021, 285 in 2022 and 314 in 2023. The improvement comes with caveats: Patchy monitoring has raised questions over how far the numbers reflect actual ambient pollution. There were multiple days when the sky was grey, but the screens displayed low values. Officials acknowledged intermittent outages at more than one station this year. TOI also reported that over the years, the expansion of green cover around monitoring sites has influenced readings, creating cleaner "pockets" that do not represent exposure on major roads. Experts say the headline number needs to be read cautiously. Research associate at Centre for Science and Environment Shubhansh Tiwari, who tracks CPCB datasets, said, "When monitors go down during key pollution episodes, the annual average gets skewed. The data gap is a concern because it affects how we interpret long-term trends." Experts say the city needs continuous and reliable air-quality data and consistent, year-round efforts focused on reducing emissions at the source "for sustained, long-term improvement".

Stubble fires halve in Punjab, Haryana; Delhi sees lowest impact in years: Data

Data from Indian Agricultural Research Institute shows Punjab at 5,114 fires and Haryana at 662, while contributions to Delhi’s pollution peaked at only 22.4 percent. The stubble-burning season, tracked from September 15 to November 30, ended on Sunday with only five fires detected across Punjab and Haryana. Data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute shared with the Commission for Air Quality Management shows that farm fire counts have halved in both states compared to last year, easing their annual impact on Delhi’s winter air quality. Punjab reported 5,114 fires this season, sharply down from 10,909 last year. Previous years recorded far higher numbers: 36,663 in 2023, 49,922 in 2022, 71,304 in 2021 and 83,002 in 2020. Haryana logged just 662 fires, its lowest in five years. The state had 1,406 fires last year; 2,303 in 2023; 3,661 in 2022; 6,987 in 2021 and 4,202 in 2020. Experts said while some fires may go undetected due to gaps in satellite capture, the overall downward trend is consistent. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said, “While the exact figures may not be fully accurate, as some farmers may be burning fields when the satellite is not capturing data, overall we know there is a reduction, which is down to both in-situ and ex-situ measures.” She added that the reduced stubble impact helped keep Delhi’s AQI peaks lower this year.

चिंताजनक: ऋतुओं का चक्र टूटा, जलवायु प्रेरित चरम मौसम से जूझ रहा भारत

मानव सभ्यता हजारों वर्षों तक ऋतुओं की निश्चितता पर निर्भर रही। कब बुवाई हो, कब ठंड आए, कब पेड़ फल दें और कब बच्चों की छुट्टियां हों। लेकिन अब ऋतुएं अपनी पहचान खोने लगी हैं और मौसम का संतुलन चरम सीमाओं पर जा पहुंचा है। भारत में हर बीतता दिन किसी न किसी विनाशकारी मौसम घटना का गवाह बन रहा है, जहां लू सर्दियों में चल रही है, बाढ़ रेगिस्तानों में आ रही है और मानसून नवंबर तक खिंच रहा है। यह अब प्रकृति का उतार-चढ़ाव नहीं, बल्कि एक नया जलवायु युग है, जिसके गवाह हम सभी बन रहे हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट तथा डाउन टू अर्थ की टीम ने 2022 से सितंबर 2025 तक भारत में घटित मौसम-संबंधी घटनाओं का विश्लेषण किया और लगभग 1,500 दिनों, अक्तूबर से दिसंबर 2025 को छोड़कर, की चरम मौसम आपदाओं का एक विस्तृत एटलस तैयार किया है। यह अध्ययन बताता है कि भारत का मौसम अब भूगोल आधारित और पारंपरिक ऋतु-चक्र की सीमाओं से बाहर निकल गया है। यानी मौसम बदल नहीं रहा, मौसम बदल चुका है। रिपोर्ट में चौंकाने वाले आंकड़े सामने आए।

Traffic, not stubble, behind daily pollution spikes in Delhi: Study

Even with farm fires at a multi-year low, Delhi-NCR's winter air remains suffocating. For most of October and November, pollution levels hovered between 'very poor' and 'severe', fuelled by a rising "toxic cocktail" of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) emitted mainly from vehicles and other local sources. At least 22 air-quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded carbon monoxide (CO) levels above permissible limits on more than 30 of the 59 days assessed, with Dwarka Sector 8 logging the highest number of breaches at 55 days, followed by Jahangirpuri and Delhi University's North Campus, both at 50 days, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis also highlights a troubling proliferation of pollution hotspots in the capital.

We saw stubble burning during Covid, so why was air clearer, asks Justice Suryakant

Even as stubble burning dropped to a multi-year low this season, Delhi-NCR’s air quality remained locked in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ categories through most of October and November, driven overwhelmingly by local emissions — particularly from vehicles. A new analysis by the CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) shows that a “toxic cocktail” of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) has dominated early-winter pollution. The report, based on CPCB data, found that 22 monitoring stations breached CO limits on more than 30 of the 59 days analysed, with Dwarka Sector 8 logging the most violations (55 days), followed by Jahangirpuri and Delhi University’s North Campus (50 days each). New and expanding pollution hotspots Delhi’s pollution hotspots have expanded drastically. From 13 hotspots officially identified in 2018, many more locations now record far worse pollution than the city average. Jahangirpuri emerged as the most polluted hotspot with an annual PM2.5 average of 119 µg/m³, followed by Bawana and Wazirpur (113 µg/m³), Anand Vihar (111 µg/m³), and Mundka, Rohini and Ashok Vihar (101–103 µg/m³). New hotspots include Vivek Vihar, Alipur, Nehru Nagar, Siri Fort, Dwarka Sector 8 and Patparganj. Smaller NCR towns also saw prolonged smog episodes. Bahadurgarh recorded a 10-day continuous smog event from November 9 to 18, underscoring that Delhi-NCR increasingly functions as a single, polluted airshed. Vehicular emissions driving synchronized spikes CSE’s analysis found that PM2.5 levels rose and fell almost simultaneously with NO₂ during peak traffic hours — 7–10 am and 6–9 pm — as emissions accumulated under shallow winter boundary layers. CO breaches also rose sharply across the city. “This synchronised pattern reinforces that particulate pollution spikes are being fuelled daily by traffic-related emissions of NO₂ and CO, especially under low-dispersion conditions,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research & Advocacy), CSE. She added, “Yet, winter control efforts remain dominated by dust measures, with weak action on vehicles, industry, waste burning and solid fuels.”

Delhi’s Daily Pollution Spikes Driven Mainly By Traffic, Not Stubble: Study

Despite farm fires dropping to their lowest levels in several years, Delhi-NCR has endured another suffocating winter. For most of October and November, air quality remained stuck between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories as a growing “toxic cocktail” of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) from vehicles and other local combustion sources dominated the season. A new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based on CPCB data, shows that carbon monoxide levels exceeded permissible limits on more than 30 out of the 59 days assessed at at least 22 monitoring stations. Dwarka Sector 8 reported the highest number of breaches at 55 days, followed closely by Jahangirpuri and Delhi University’s North Campus, both registering 50 days above the limit. The same study points to a steep rise in pollution hotspots across the capital. While only 13 locations were officially flagged in 2018, many more neighbourhoods now routinely report pollution levels significantly higher than the city average.

No Respite From Toxic Haze: Rising Harmful Gases In Delhi's Air Go Unnoticed, Warns Report

As New Delhi remained enveloped in a toxic haze in the last two months, a new assessment has shown the worsening air quality in the national capital is not solely due to high PM2.5 concentration. While the attention remains on daily PM2.5 peaks, the rising levels of equally harmful gases – nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) – have largely gone unnoticed, which underscores the need to intensify action on local sources. According to the latest winter air assessment led by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) – based on air quality data accessed from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from October 1 to November 15 – PM2.5 dominated the air quality index (AQI), but other harmful gases went unnoticed. The assessment shows that PM.2.5 (particulate matter) rose and fell almost in tandem with NO2 in the morning (from 7 am to 10 am) and evening hours (6 pm to 9 pm), as both pollutants surge with traffic emissions and get trapped under the shallow winter boundary layers. But the surge in NO2 is sharper and more immediate as compared to PM2.5, which tends to accumulate and disperse more slowly.

Vehicles and combustion sources, not episodic farm fires, behind Delhi’s toxic cocktail: CSE experts

Local pollution sources, and not the smoke from stubble burning, are the leading contributors to the national capital’s foul air quality this winter season, according to a report published by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based Climate think tank, on Monday. The study examined pollution trends in Delhi and its neighbouring areas during the early winter months spanning from October 1 to November 15.

Traffic, not stubble, behind daily pollution spikes in Delhi: Study

Even with farm fires at a multi-year low, Delhi-NCR's winter air remains suffocating. For most of October and November, pollution levels hovered between 'very poor' and 'severe', fuelled by a rising "toxic cocktail" of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) emitted mainly from vehicles and other local sources. At least 22 air-quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded carbon monoxide (CO) levels above permissible limits on more than 30 of the 59 days assessed, with Dwarka Sector 8 logging the highest number of breaches at 55 days, followed by Jahangirpuri and Delhi University's North Campus, both at 50 days, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis also highlights a troubling proliferation of pollution hotspots in the capital. In 2018, only 13 locations were officially designated as hotspots. Now, several more locations routinely record pollution levels far higher than the city average. Jahangirpuri emerged as Delhi's most polluted hotspot, with an annual PM2.5 average of 119 µg/m³, or micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Bawana and Wazirpur (113 µg/m³), Anand Vihar (111 µg/m³), and Mundka, Rohini, and Ashok Vihar (101–103 µg/m³). Vivek Vihar, Alipur, Nehru Nagar, Siri Fort, Dwarka Sector 8 and Patparganj were some of the new hotspots flagged by CSE. Smaller NCR towns also recorded more intense and longer smog episodes this year. Bahadurgarh experienced the longest continuous smog event — lasting 10 days, from November 9 to 18 — indicating that the region increasingly behaves as a single airshed with uniformly high pollution levels. CSE's assessment finds that early winter pollution has plateaued at unhealthy levels, driven mainly by local emissions, even as the contribution of stubble burning has dropped significantly. The analysis — based on CPCB data — points to a "toxic cocktail" of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), pollutants closely linked to vehicles and combustion sources, that has heightened health risks this season. Researchers found that PM2.5 levels rose and fell almost in tandem with NO₂ during peak traffic hours. Between 7–10 am and 6–9 pm, both pollutants spiked sharply as vehicular emissions accumulated under shallow winter boundary layers. While NO₂ showed rapid, traffic-linked peaks, PM2.5 recorded broader, slower-moving spikes. CO levels also breached the eight-hour standard at several locations across the city. "This synchronised pattern reinforces that particulate pollution spikes are being fuelled daily by traffic-related emissions of NO₂ and CO, especially under low-dispersion conditions," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), CSE. "Yet, winter control efforts remain dominated by dust measures, with weak action on vehicles, industry, waste burning and solid fuels," she added. The report notes that stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana was significantly subdued this year, partly because floods disrupted the crop cycle. For most of the early winter period, farm fires contributed less than 5 per cent to Delhi's pollution, rising to 5–15 per cent on some days and peaking at 22 per cent on November 12–13. While the decline in stubble burning prevented extreme pollution spikes, it did little to improve daily air quality, the report said. PM2.5 remained the dominant pollutant on 34 days, followed by PM10 on 25 days, ozone on 13 days, and CO on two days. Throughout November, the AQI remained in the 'very poor' to 'severe' range, underscoring the persistent impact of Delhi's local pollution sources — traffic, industry, waste burning, and domestic fuel use. Although peak pollution levels this year were lower compared to the past three winters due to reduced firecrackers and farm-fire impact, average pollution levels showed almost no improvement. PM2.5 levels for October–November were about 9 per cent lower than last year, but compared to the three-year baseline, no meaningful progress was observed. Between 2018 and 2020, PM2.5 levels recorded a steady decline, partly due to the pandemic. Since 2021–22, however, annual averages have plateaued at elevated levels. In 2024, the annual average rose sharply to 104.7 µg/m³, reversing earlier gains. The report recommends a set of deep structural measures to tackle emissions across sectors—time-bound electrification targets, scrapping of older vehicles, expanded public transport and last-mile connectivity, and better walking and cycling infrastructure. It also calls for parking caps, congestion taxes, cleaner industrial fuels, lower gas taxes, elimination of waste burning, improved waste segregation, and remediation of legacy dumps. On Monday, Delhi's 3 pm AQI stood at 303, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to the CPCB's air quality bulletin.

पराली नहीं, दिल्ली की जहरीली हवा की ये है असल वजह... CSE की रिपोर्ट में हुआ चौंकाने वाला खुलासा

CSE Report on Delhi Pollution: दिल्ली की हवा में बढ़ते प्रदूषण के लिए अब तक पराली जलाने को मुख्य वजह माना जाता रहा है, लेकिन सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की एक नई रिपोर्ट में चौंकाने वाला खुलासा हुआ है. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दिल्ली की जहरीली हवा के पीछे असली 'विलेन' ट्रैफिक यानी वाहनों का धुआं और शहर के अंदर के स्थानीय समस्याएं हैं, न कि पड़ोसी राज्यों में जलने वाली पराली. क्या कहती है CSE की रिपोर्ट? CSE की रिपोर्ट में बताया गया कि इस बार अक्टूबर और नवंबर के महीनों में दिल्ली के प्रदूषण में पराली के धुएं का योगदान ज्यादातर दिनों में 5% से भी कम रहा. इसके बावजूद AQI लगातार 'बहुत खराब' या 'गंभीर' श्रेणी में बना रहा.स्टडी में पता चला कि सुबह 7 से 10 बजे और शाम को 6 से 9 बजे के दौरान हवा में PM2.5 और नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड की मात्रा एक साथ बहुत तेजी से बढ़ती है. रिसर्चरों का कहना है कि सर्दियों में हवा नीचे बैठ जाती है, जिससे गाड़ियों का धुआं ऊपर नहीं जा पाता और रोजाना जहरीला कॉकटेल बन जाता है.

दिल्ली में प्रदूषण का असली कारण स्थानीय स्रोत, हॉटस्पॉट बढ़े, एनसीआर के छोटे शहर भी गंभीर संकट में : सीएसई

खेतों में पराली जलाने से प्रदूषण का असर कम हुआ है, लेकिन दिल्ली की हवा अब भी ‘बहुत खराब’ से ‘गंभीर’ श्रेणी में यानी स्थानीय स्रोत प्रदूषण बढ़ा रहे हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट की संख्या बढ़ी है साथ ही एनसीआर के छोटे शहरों में प्रदूषण और ज्यादा और स्मॉग की घटनाएं अधिक गंभीर हुई है। सीएसई का यह विश्लेषण शुरुआती सर्दियों (अक्टूबर–15 नवंबर) के रुझानों पर किया गया है। सीएसई की कार्यकारी निदेशक (रिसर्च व एडवोकेसी) अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी कहती हैं कि सबसे चिंता की बात यह है कि पीएम2.5 के साथ-साथ जहरीली गैसें NO2 और CO भी रोजाना बढ़ रही हैं। खासतौर पर वाहन और दहन स्रोतों से निकलने वाली यह जहरीली मिली-जुली हवा आमतौर पर नजर में नहीं आती। लंबे समय से दिल्ली की हवा में कोई सुधार नहीं दिख रहा। अब वाहनों, उद्योगों, बिजली संयंत्रों, कचरे, निर्माण और घरेलू ईंधन से होने वाले उत्सर्जन को बड़े स्तर पर नियंत्रित करने की जरूरत है। सीएसई की डिप्टी प्रोग्राम मैनेजर शरणजीत कौर कहती हैं कि एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का फैलाव लगातार बड़ा और स्थिर बना हुआ है। शहर में प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट बढ़ गए हैं। छोटे शहरों में स्मॉग ज्यादा और लंबे समय तक बना रहता है। पराली कम होने से पीक लेवल तो थोड़ा कम हुए पर हवा धीरे-धीरे और ज्यादा प्रदूषित हो रही है।