Delhi Air Quality Shows Slight Improvement, But Still Stands In ‘Poor’ Category

A light haze persists over the capital as the AQI marginally improved to 230 after three days in the ‘very poor’ category; a new report confirms five other NCR cities were more polluted than Delhi in October.

November 5, 2025: Delhi’s prolonged battle with toxic post-Diwali air saw a slight improvement on Wednesday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) registering at 230, shifting from the “very poor” to the “poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

However, key hotspots continued to grapple with unhealthy air, with areas like ITO and Akshardham recording AQI levels near 281 in the morning. This marginal relief follows three consecutive days where the AQI was locked in the “very poor” bracket, hitting 366 on Sunday and 309 on Monday.

NCR Dominates Pollution List

A new report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) paints a grim national picture, showing a sharp decline in air quality across the National Capital Region (NCR) in October 2025.

According to the analysis:

• Dharuhera, Haryana, was ranked as India’s most polluted city in October, experiencing two “severe” and nine “very poor” days.
• Delhi ranked sixth overall, trailing five other NCR cities: Dharuhera, Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Ballabgarh.
• Delhi’s average PM2.5 concentration in October was nearly three times higher than its September average, underscoring the severity of the seasonal spike.

CREA analysts emphasized that this spike highlights the impact of year-round pollution sources—such as vehicular emissions, construction dust, and industrial discharge—amplified by the winter’s low wind speeds and cool temperatures, which trap pollutants close to the ground.

Stubble Burning Shows Decline

In one positive development, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported a notable reduction in farm fire incidents compared to the previous season, indicating stricter enforcement efforts.

State	Farm Fires (Sept 15 – Nov 3, 2025)	Farm Fires (Same Period Last Year)
Punjab	2,518	4,132
Haryana	145	857

Authorities inspected over 2,200 fields in the adjoining states and imposed Environmental Compensation amounting to Rs 55.75 lakh on violators, attempting to curb one of the major seasonal pollution sources contributing to the capital’s smog blanket.

Meanwhile, the ban on the entry of non-Delhi registered BS-III commercial goods vehicles, in accordance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage II measures, remains in force as the city prepares for colder, less windy days ahead.