NEW DELHI, India, May 31 — Delhi recorded its lowest average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the January-May period in eight years, excluding 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions significantly reduced economic and transportation activities, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
In a post on X, the CAQM said the city recorded an average AQI of 211 in 2026, marking an improvement over previous years.
“The average AQI of Delhi for January-May during 2026 has been the lowest in eight years (barring the COVID year 2020), recording 211, as against 214 in 2025, 231 in 2024, 213 in 2023, 238 in 2022, 235 in 2021, 181 in 2020, 237 in 2019, and 243 in 2018 during the corresponding period,” the CAQM said.
The commission highlighted that, apart from 2020—which saw unusually low pollution levels due to pandemic-related restrictions—this is the lowest average AQI recorded in the city over the past eight years.
The CAQM also noted that Delhi recorded 75 “Good to Moderate” AQI days during January-May 2026, compared with 70 in 2025, 75 in 2024, 74 in 2023, 37 in 2022, 59 in 2021, 98 in 2020, 59 in 2019, and 44 in 2018 during the same period.
The improvement comes amid ongoing efforts by authorities to curb pollution in the national capital, including stricter monitoring of industrial emissions, promotion of cleaner fuels, and restrictions on construction dust during peak pollution periods. (ANI)
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