Delhi AQI improves: Capital breathes cleaner air, but remains India’s most polluted city

Delhi AQI

Despite a 15 per cent drop in average PM10 levels in 2024-2025 as compared to 2017-18, Delhi remains the most polluted among the 130 non-attainment cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), according to the Union Environment Ministry. These ‘non-attainment’ cities are those that have failed to meet the national air quality standards for a consistent period, The Times of India reported.

As per the data submitted in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, the annual average PM10 level in Delhi has gone down from 241 micrograms per cubic metre in 2017-18 to 203 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024-25. This marks a 15 per cent improvement over seven years. However, the figure is still over three times the national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, and the highest in the country, followed by Patna, which recorded 167 micrograms.

PM10 pollutants are coarse particles that can lodge deep into the lungs, causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. These pollutants generally come from sources like road dust, vehicle emissions, industries, and burning of biomass.

The Centre called this reduction in pollution ‘notable,’ pointing out that Delhi’s performance was better than Chennai, which recorded a 12 per cent improvement, even though its PM10 level was far lower at 58. In comparison, Mumbai showed the best improvement with a 44 per cent drop, followed by Kolkata with 37 per cent, and then Delhi.

Low fund utilisation

Another issue highlighted by the Ministry is the underutilisation of funds by the Delhi government. Of the Rs 62 crore sanctioned under NCAP and the 15th Finance Commission, only Rs 13.9 crore (22.5 per cent) has been spent so far.

The reply listed measures taken to control pollution in Delhi, including the use of cleaner fuel and formulation of Graded Response Action Plan. "To address vehicular emissions, govt has taken proactive measures such as the introduction of BSVI fuel norms for vehicles from April 1, 2018, in Delhi and from April 1, 2020, for the rest of the country, introduction of a vehicle scrapping policy and the promotion of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure through various central schemes," the reply stated.

It added that the Commission for Air Quality Management also directed Delhi govt to migrate public transport services, especially buses in NCR, to cleaner modes and ordered other anti-pollution measures, like getting brick kilns to adopt zig-zag technology, banning pet coke and furnace oil as industrial fuel, use of piped natural gas for industries and installation of anti-smog guns and dust control measures in the city.

Launched in January 2019, NCAP aimed to reduce PM10 levels by 20–30 per cent by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. It has now been extended to 2026, with a revised target of 40 per cent reduction.