The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released air quality data showing that Delhi’s air pollution levels have improved significantly in 2026. The capital recorded its lowest September average Air Quality Index in five years, continuing a positive trend in pollution control across the Delhi-National Capital Region.
According to the ministry, Delhi’s air quality has been steadily improving through coordinated efforts by the Commission for Air Quality Management and other stakeholders working to reduce pollution sources.
Key facts
- September 2026 monthly average AQI: 102 (lowest in five years)
- September 2025 AQI: 105
- September 2024 AQI: 105
- September 2023 AQI: 108
- September 2022 AQI: 104
- Days with ‘Moderate’ category AQI (below 200) from January to September 2026: 194 days (highest in five years)
- Days with ‘Poor to Severe’ category AQI from January to September 2026: 79 days (lowest in five years)
- Average PM2.5 concentration in January-September 2026: 69 µg/m³ (joint-lowest with 2025)
- Average PM2.5 in January-September 2025: 69 µg/m³
- Average PM2.5 in January-September 2024: 81 µg/m³
- Average PM2.5 in January-September 2023: 73 µg/m³
- Average PM2.5 in January-September 2022: 80 µg/m³
Understanding the air quality metrics
The Air Quality Index, or AQI, measures pollution levels on a scale where lower numbers indicate cleaner air. The index considers six major pollutants: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone. Different ranges represent different air quality categories, with ‘Moderate’ being healthier than ‘Poor’ or ‘Severe’.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers. These particles penetrate deep into the lungs and can cause serious health problems. Measuring PM2.5 concentration in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) helps track pollution levels that directly affect residents’ health.
Improvement across multiple indicators
The data shows improvement not in a single metric but across several measures of air quality. From January to September 2026, Delhi experienced the most days with ‘Moderate’ air quality compared to the previous four years, with 194 such days. This means residents had better air quality for breathing on more days this year than in comparable periods since 2022.
Conversely, the number of days when air quality fell into the hazardous ‘Poor to Severe+’ categories was the lowest in five years, with only 79 such days recorded in the first nine months of 2026. In 2022, by contrast, there were 127 days with poor or severe air quality during the same period.
PM2.5 concentrations have also stabilized at healthier levels. The average of 69 µg/m³ in 2026 matches the 2025 figure and represents a significant decrease from 80 to 81 µg/m³ recorded in 2022 and 2024 respectively.
Role of the Commission for Air Quality Management
The Commission for Air Quality Management is the nodal agency responsible for coordinating pollution control across Delhi-NCR. The commission works with multiple stakeholders including state governments, municipal bodies, transport authorities and industries to implement pollution prevention measures. These typically include controls on construction dust, industrial emissions, vehicular pollution and biomass burning.
The ministry statement indicates that these coordination efforts will be intensified in the coming months to sustain and further improve air quality.
What this means for you
If you live or work in Delhi, improved air quality means lower health risks from air pollution. Better air quality days reduce the likelihood of respiratory problems, especially for children, elderly people and those with asthma or other lung conditions. The reduction in poor air quality days means fewer occasions when outdoor activities need to be restricted or masks become essential.
The improving trend suggests that pollution control policies implemented over the past years are working. However, Delhi still experiences days with moderate to poor air quality, so residents should continue monitoring daily AQI forecasts and taking precautions during high-pollution days.