Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records show remarkable progress in 2025, with the region reporting its cleanest January–August in eight years (excluding the Covid lockdown). With AQI dropping to 172, no severe days, and 65 satisfactory days, Delhi may finally be turning a corner in its pollution battle.
New Delhi (ABC Live): Delhi-NCR, often criticised as the world’s most polluted capital region, is showing signs of a turnaround. The period January–August 2025 has delivered the best Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records in eight years (excluding 2020 lockdown). This report by ABC Live analyses the data, legal frameworks, and governance measures driving this change.
1. The Data Snapshot (2018–2025)
| Year | Avg. AQI (Jan–Aug) | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | PM10 (µg/m³) | ‘Severe’ Days | ‘Satisfactory’ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 203 | 95 | 221 | 6 | 40 |
| 2019 | 199 | 91 | 206 | 7 | 35 |
| 2020* | 147 | 68 | 136 | 2 | 87 |
| 2021 | 192 | 90 | 198 | 6 | 42 |
| 2022 | 194 | 85 | 201 | 1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 174 | 78 | 176 | 3 | 50 |
| 2024 | 187 | 86 | 192 | 3 | 48 |
| 2025 | 172 | 74 | 169 | 0 | 65 |
Analysis:
-
The Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records of 2025 mark a clear departure from 2018–2021 levels.
-
The absence of severe days and the highest satisfactory days in eight years prove that this is more than a seasonal fluctuation.
2. Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records: August Trends
-
August 2025 recorded an average AQI of 89.
-
There were 23 good/satisfactory days, compared to just 8 in 2023.
? Observation:
August’s consistent improvement indicates that Delhi’s air quality records are no longer dependent solely on monsoon rains but are backed by policy enforcement.
3. Legal-Regulatory Lens: How Law Shapes Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records
-
Article 21 (Right to Life): Courts have interpreted this to include the right to clean air.
-
Air Act 1981 & Environment Protection Act 1986: Central laws underpinning pollution control.
-
CAQM Act 2021: A turning point, giving binding powers across states in NCR.
-
Judicial Oversight: Supreme Court and NGT orders have forced compliance on stubble burning, construction dust, vehicular emissions.
Analysis:
The steady improvement in Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records is as much a product of judicial enforcement as it is of government policy and citizen behavior.
4. Why This Report Now & Why It Is Unique
-
Why Now: Most coverage focuses on winter smog. ABC Live publishes in September 2025 to highlight structural gains before the crisis season.
-
Why Unique: Unlike standard reports, this study integrates data, law, governance, and citizen experience into one narrative. It goes beyond averages to highlight days of breathable air, linking policy to lived experience.
5. Conclusion
The Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records of 2025 represent a turning point:
-
Lowest average AQI (172) in eight years.
-
Zero severe days in a non-lockdown year.
-
65 satisfactory days—the highest since 2018.
-
PM2.5 and PM10 are at their lowest levels in eight years.
The real test will be the winter months of 2025–2026. If these gains sustain, Delhi-NCR Air Quality Records will no longer symbolise a crisis, but a success story in environmental governance.
Sources & Links
-
PIB: In the last 8 years, Delhi has witnessed the Best AQI figures in 2025 (Jan–Aug) — pib.gov.in
-
TOI: Delhi’s July air quality best in 10 years (AQI 79) — timesofindia.indiatimes.com
-
ET EnergyWorld: CAQM lifts GRAP Stage I restrictions across NCR — energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com
-
CPCB: Ambient Air Quality Data – Delhi NCR — cpcb.nic.in
-
CAQM Act, 2021 — caqm.nic.in
-
PRS: The CAQM Bill, 2021 — prsindia.org
Also, Read
Explained: Status of High Seas Treaty and India’s Position
