Delhi Air Quality Remains ’Very Poor’ as Temperatures Plummet
new Delhi – December 6, 2025 – Delhi residents continue to breathe ‘very poor’ air as pollution levels remain elevated, coinciding with a notable dip in temperatures. Air quality fluctuated throughout the week, peaking at an AQI of 372 on Tuesday, nearing the ‘severe’ category, before easing slightly. Friday’s AQI was recorded at 327.
Several locations across the city reported particularly poor air quality, including NSIT Dwarka (260), Mandir Marg (256), IGI Airport (263), and Aya Nagar (289).
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards, an AQI between 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
Analysis from Delhi’s Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality management indicates that vehicular emissions are the largest local contributor to pollution, accounting for 15.3 percent. Industries within and around Delhi contribute 7.6 percent, followed by residential sources (3.7 percent), construction dust (2.1 percent), and waste burning (1.3 percent).
Pollution sources extend beyond Delhi’s borders, with neighboring NCR districts also contributing. Jhajjar accounted for 14.3 percent of pollutants, Rohtak 5 percent, Sonipat 3.8 percent, Bhiwani 2.5 percent, and Gurugram 1.5 percent, according to the DSS analysis.
Mohammad Rafiuddin, Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, Habitat and Water (CEEW), noted that delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category for most of the past week. he stated that with stubble burning declining, vehicular, residential, and construction-related emissions have become the primary sources of PM2.5.
Rafiuddin emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of Stage II curbs under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which currently requires dust control at construction sites, restrictions on vehicles below BS-IV standards, and staggered office timings. “Ensuring firm compliance with GRAP Stages I and II is essential to prevent further deterioration in air quality,” he said. He also urged citizens to utilize public transportation and wear masks when outdoors to minimize exposure.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a shallow fog for Saturday, with temperatures expected to range between 8 and 23 degrees Celsius. Friday saw a maximum temperature of 23.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.6 degrees celsius – the lowest of the season so far, and 3.9 degrees below normal. Humidity levels reached 100 percent in the morning before dropping to 68 percent by 5:30 pm. The previous coldest December morning was 4.5 degrees Celsius, recorded on December 12, 2024.
Published by Shipra Parashar.
