Delhi NCR AQI Today
— All Areas, Live
Real-time Air Quality Index for Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and every NCR city. Updated every hour from CPCB monitoring stations.
Delhi & NCR Air Quality — Right Now
Prominent monitoring stations across the National Capital Region — showing current AQI, dominant pollutant and health band.
India AQI Scale — What Each Level Means
India's National Air Quality Index (AQI) uses a 0–500 scale defined by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Here's what every band means for your health.
| AQI Range | Category | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | PM10 (µg/m³) | Health Impact | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | 0–30 | 0–50 | Minimal impact | No restriction on outdoor activities |
| 51–100 | Satisfactory | 30–60 | 50–100 | Minor breathing discomfort for sensitive people | Sensitive groups reduce prolonged exertion |
| 101–200 | Moderate | 60–90 | 100–250 | Breathing discomfort for asthma, heart patients | Wear N95 mask outdoors for sensitive groups |
| 201–300 | Poor | 90–120 | 250–350 | Breathing discomfort for most on prolonged exposure | Wear mask; avoid outdoor exercise; use air purifier |
| 301–400 | Very Poor | 120–250 | 350–430 | Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure | Stay indoors; seal windows; N95 if venturing out |
| 401–500+ | Severe / Emergency | >250 | >430 | Serious health hazard; affects healthy people | Avoid all outdoor activity; school/office may close |
Historical AQI Delhi NCR — View by Date
Browse past AQI readings for Delhi and NCR stations. Use the date selector or quick-range buttons to look up air quality on any day.
| Date | Area | AQI | Category | PM2.5 (µg/m³) | PM10 (µg/m³) | Dominant Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading historical data… | ||||||
Historical data sourced from CPCB CAAQMS Portal. Data is indicative; for official records contact CPCB.
Why Is Delhi's Air Quality So Bad?
Delhi consistently ranks among the world's most polluted capitals. Understanding the causes helps residents and authorities act. Here's the full picture.
Primary Sources of Pollution
- Stubble burning in Punjab & Haryana (Oct–Nov) — contributes up to 40% of PM2.5 in peak season
- Vehicular emissions — over 1.1 crore registered vehicles in Delhi alone
- Industrial emissions from NCR manufacturing clusters (Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida)
- Road and construction dust — Delhi's constant infrastructure projects
- Firecrackers — single-night AQI spikes during Diwali often cross 700
- Waste burning — open burning of municipal and agricultural waste
- Coal-fired thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi
Seasonal AQI Pattern in Delhi
- Summer (Apr–Jun): AQI 100–200 — heat and dust; pre-monsoon dust storms
- Monsoon (Jul–Sep): AQI 50–120 — cleanest period; rain washes pollutants
- Post-Monsoon (Oct): AQI 150–300 — stubble burning begins; air starts trapping
- Winter (Nov–Jan): AQI 300–500+ — temperature inversion + stubble + low wind
- Spring (Feb–Mar): AQI 150–250 — gradual improvement as temperatures rise
Health Effects of Delhi's Air
- PM2.5 penetrates deep into lungs, entering the bloodstream
- Long-term exposure linked to reduced lung capacity in children
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and lung cancer
- AIIMS studies show 2.2 lakh premature deaths/year attributable to air pollution in India
- Eye irritation, throat inflammation and asthma exacerbations peak in winter
- Pregnant women — elevated risk of low birth weight and preterm birth
How to Protect Yourself
- Use N95 / FFP2 masks outdoors when AQI > 150 — not surgical masks
- Install HEPA air purifiers at home; keep windows closed on bad days
- Avoid outdoor exercise in mornings when pollution is highest
- Drink plenty of water — hydration supports the respiratory tract
- Check this page or the Sameer app by CPCB daily before going out
- Consult a pulmonologist if you have asthma or chronic lung disease
GRAP & Government Action — What's Being Done
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is India's framework for emergency pollution controls in Delhi NCR, triggered by AQI thresholds.
| GRAP Stage | AQI Trigger | Key Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Stage I — Poor | AQI 201–300 | Mechanical sweeping of roads; ban on open waste burning; dust control at construction sites |
| Stage II — Very Poor | AQI 301–400 | Diesel generators restricted; enhanced public transport; brick kiln and stone crusher curbs |
| Stage III — Severe | AQI 401–450 | BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel vehicles banned; construction halted; schools may go online |
| Stage IV — Severe+ | AQI >450 | Trucks banned in Delhi; odd-even scheme possible; work-from-home for offices; essential services only |
Delhi NCR AQI — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about air quality in Delhi and NCR — answered with data and sources.
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Delhi's AQI is shown live at the top of this page, updated every 60 minutes from CPCB monitoring stations. Delhi's AQI is measured on a 0–500 scale: 0–50 Good, 51–100 Satisfactory, 101–200 Moderate, 201–300 Poor, 301–400 Very Poor, 401–500+ Severe. Delhi frequently records Very Poor to Severe AQI in November–January due to temperature inversion and stubble burning.
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Among NCR cities, Ghaziabad, Noida and Faridabad frequently record higher AQI than Delhi city itself — largely due to industrial activity, vehicular density and proximity to UP highways that see heavy truck traffic. Within Delhi, areas like Anand Vihar, RK Puram, and Wazirpur consistently record the highest readings due to traffic density, industrial clusters and proximity to major roads. Gurugram can record lower AQI on some days due to relatively better urban planning and sea breezes from the Aravalli range.
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In winter, midday (12pm–3pm) tends to have the lowest pollution levels as the sun heats the surface air, breaking the temperature inversion and allowing pollutants to disperse. Early mornings (6–8am) and evenings (7–9pm) are typically the worst times, as pollutants accumulate near ground level. In summer and monsoon, any time outside is relatively safe if AQI is below 150.
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This page automatically fetches the latest AQI data every 60 minutes from the WAQI (World Air Quality Index) API, which aggregates data from CPCB, DPCC and other certified monitoring stations in real time. The timestamp of the last update is shown at the top of this page. You can also manually refresh the page to get the latest reading.
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Delhi's geography is the primary culprit. Unlike Mumbai (coastal sea breeze) and Bangalore (elevated plateau with good wind), Delhi sits in the Indo-Gangetic Plain — a flat, bowl-shaped region surrounded by mountains to the north. This traps pollutants. Combined with proximity to agricultural burning in Punjab and Haryana, extremely dense vehicular and industrial activity, and a large population, Delhi's air quality is structurally harder to improve than coastal or elevated cities.
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The National Capital Region (NCR) officially includes: Delhi (all 11 districts), Haryana districts — Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Panipat, Bhiwani, Palwal, Mewat, Rewari, Mahendragarh; Uttar Pradesh districts — Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Meerut, Hapur; and Rajasthan — Alwar and Bharatpur. For AQI purposes, the most monitored areas are Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Rohtak, Panipat and Alwar.
Explore More — TheNewDelhi.in
Delhi is more than its air quality. From metro routes to neighbourhood guides, here's everything else we cover on this site.
AQI data sourced from World Air Quality Index Project (WAQI), which aggregates from CPCB, DPCC & EPA monitoring networks. For official regulatory data, visit cpcb.nic.in. Page maintained by TheNewDelhi.in. Last reviewed June 2026.