Delhi sees a breather in air quality, but pollution levels stay ‘poor’ with AQI at 292

• ET Online

• Published On Dec 26, 2025 at 07:38 AM IST

Delhi residents woke up to marginally cleaner air on Friday, though pollution levels continued to remain firmly in the ‘poor’ category. The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 292 as of 6:05 AM, according to data from the government-run SAMEER app, signalling some relief but not enough to lift health concerns.Several pollution hotspots continued to record elevated AQI levels. Alipur registered an AQI of 320, Bawana touched 363, while Chandni Chowk recorded 339, placing all three in the ‘very poor’ bracket. Other parts of the capital, however, saw comparatively better conditions, in what was likely an uneven improvement across the city.

The modest improvement follows a sharper dip in pollution levels observed on Thursday morning, when Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 221 around 8 am, still categorised as ‘poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marked a significant recovery from Wednesday, when the AQI had crossed the 300 mark in several areas.

Despite the improvement, a thin haze lingered over parts of the city. Areas such as Anand Vihar, Dhaula Kuan, Akshardham and around India Gate reported light smog, even as visibility remained relatively clear in the early hours. Anand Vihar itself recorded an AQI of 292, aligning with the citywide average.CPCB data showed that many monitoring stations reported lower readings compared to earlier in the week, though most remained within the ‘poor’ range. Bawana logged an AQI of 289, Chandni Chowk 255, Dwarka Sector 8 stood at 222, Patparganj at 230, and DTU recorded 249. In contrast, a few pockets slipped into the ‘moderate’ category, offering signs of temporary relief. Aya Nagar recorded an AQI of 137, while Mandir Marg (171), Najafgarh (137) and CRRI Mathura Road (162) also showed improved air quality.

CAQM revokes GRAP IV measures

Under CPCB norms, AQI levels between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘poor’, while readings above 300 enter the ‘very poor’ category. Only values below 200 are considered ‘moderate’ or better.Earlier this week, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), citing sustained improvement in air quality. The decision followed a review by the Sub-Committee on GRAP, which assessed prevailing pollution levels along with forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).In its order, the Commission noted: “The AQI in Delhi has shown significant improvement since last night, owing to high winds and favourable meteorological conditions, and was recorded at 271 (‘Poor’ category) on 24.12.2025. Air Quality forecast provided by IMD/IITM suggests an increase in AQI of Delhi due to slower winds in the coming days.”While weather conditions have offered temporary respite, forecasts indicating slower winds suggest that pollution levels could climb again, keeping Delhi’s air quality under close watch in the days ahead.

Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals.

Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.

All about ETAuto industry right on your smartphone!

• Download the ETAuto App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles.