Delhi's air quality improves sharply: National capital sees best January–May AQI in eight years

Key Takeaways

• Delhi recorded its best average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the January–May period in eight years, excluding 2020, when Covid-19 lockdowns sharply reduced transportation and economic activity, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
• In a post on X, the CAQM reported that the capital's average AQI stood at 211 in 2026, reflecting a notable improvement compared with the same period in recent years.
• "The avg AQI of Delhi for Jan-May during 2026 has been the lowest in 08 years (barring Covid-year 2020) as it recorded 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," CAQM's post read.
• 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 in the past eight years.
• The CAQM also noted that the national capital recorded “75 'Good to Moderate' AQI days during January-May of year 2026, as against 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 respectively, during the corresponding period.” The improvement comes amid efforts by authorities to control pollution in the national capital, including stricter monitoring of industrial emissions, promotion of cleaner fuels, and restrictions on construction dust during peak pollution months.