The Capital Under Siege: Understanding the Delhi AQI Crisis
Every winter, Delhi turns into a gas chamber, and this year has been no exception. The Delhi AQI Crisis has deepened once again, leaving millions gasping for clean air. According to real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has been hovering between 350 and 390, a level classified as “very poor” — just one step away from “severe.”
From Anand Vihar to Rohini, the thick blanket of smog has not only dimmed visibility but also raised serious health alarms. The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in some parts of the city has exceeded 110 µg/m³, which is nearly eight times higher than the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. For context, the WHO recommends a PM2.5 level below 15 µg/m³ for a 24-hour average.
Doctors in the capital are reporting a sharp increase in respiratory complaints, eye irritation, and chronic coughing. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions like asthma or cardiac ailments are the most affected.
🧭 What’s Behind the Delhi AQI Crisis?
Experts say that the Delhi AQI Crisis is not the result of a single factor but a combination of man-made and seasonal elements:
- Stubble Burning: Every year, farmers in Punjab and Haryana set fire to leftover crop stubble after the harvest season. This year, satellite data shows that more than 2,000 farm fires were detected in the last week of October alone.
- Vehicular Emissions: Delhi has over 1.3 crore registered vehicles, making it one of the most polluted urban centers in the world. Heavy traffic, especially diesel vehicles, contributes significantly to NOx and PM emissions.
- Construction Dust: Despite restrictions, large-scale construction and demolition continue, creating enormous dust clouds that hang over the city.
- Weather Conditions: Cooler temperatures, low wind speed, and a phenomenon called temperature inversion trap pollutants close to the ground, intensifying the smog.
According to a report from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), nearly 30% of Delhi’s winter pollution can be traced back to stubble burning, while the remaining 70% originates within the city itself.
⚖️ Supreme Court’s Tough Words on the Delhi AQI Crisis
The worsening Delhi AQI Crisis finally drew the attention of the Supreme Court of India, which held an urgent hearing on November 3, 2025. The bench, led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, expressed severe dissatisfaction with the authorities’ inaction.
“We keep getting reports after reports, but where is the action?” the Court observed, adding that the right to breathe clean air is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.
During the hearing, it came to light that many of Delhi’s air quality monitoring stations were defunct. Out of 37 continuous monitoring stations, only 9 were functioning during the Diwali period — precisely when pollution was at its peak. The Court described this situation as “unacceptable” and directed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the CPCB to file a detailed report within a week.
The Supreme Court also stressed the importance of reliable data. Without functional monitoring stations, the authorities cannot activate the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a stepwise emergency system designed to control pollution.
🏗️ What the Government and Agencies Are Doing
The Delhi government has already implemented Stage III of GRAP, which includes a ban on construction and demolition activities, restrictions on diesel vehicles, and increased street watering to control dust.
Moreover, schools in Delhi and NCR regions have been advised to switch to online classes for younger students to minimize exposure. The Delhi Transport Department has stepped up checks on vehicular emissions and intensified enforcement against open garbage burning.
However, environmentalists argue that these are short-term fixes. They point out that once winter passes, enforcement often weakens, leading to the same pattern every year.
The CAQM is reportedly planning to install 50 new monitoring stations by January 2026 to improve data coverage and transparency. These will help identify pollution hotspots in real time and ensure faster policy response.
🌍 A City Gasping for Breath
Delhi’s toxic air doesn’t just cloud the skyline — it takes lives. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, prolonged exposure to polluted air contributes to nearly 30,000 premature deaths every year in the National Capital Region.
In hospitals across Delhi, doctors are witnessing a worrying trend. Even young adults with no prior medical history are showing early signs of bronchitis, asthma, and reduced lung capacity. Dr. Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director, recently stated, “This is not just an environmental issue anymore — it’s a public health emergency.”
Many residents have resorted to wearing N95 masks even indoors, and the sale of air purifiers has surged by over 40% this season. Yet, such measures offer only limited protection when the very air one breathes is poisonous.
🧩 Can the Delhi AQI Crisis Be Solved?
Experts believe that solving the Delhi AQI Crisis will require a multi-pronged and long-term approach:
- Enforcing strict vehicular norms: Transitioning more public transport and private vehicles to electric or hybrid models.
- Regulating construction dust: Ensuring all construction sites use dust screens, sprinklers, and anti-smog guns.
- Curbing stubble burning: Incentivizing farmers with subsidies for eco-friendly residue management technologies.
- Regional cooperation: Delhi’s air quality is linked with neighboring states — a coordinated interstate plan is essential.
- Public awareness: Citizens must play a role by avoiding open burning and using cleaner fuels.
🕊️ The Road Ahead
As the Delhi AQI Crisis deepens, the Supreme Court’s intervention offers a glimmer of hope. Yet, unless every agency — from local municipal bodies to state governments — works in unison, the smog will continue to return each winter like an unwanted guest.
For Delhiites, the battle for clean air has become a daily struggle. Every breath is a reminder of the urgent need for accountability, scientific action, and political will.
Until then, masks, air purifiers, and prayers will remain Delhi’s most used survival tools — in a city that dreams of blue skies but wakes up each day under a grey haze.
