Delhi Air Quality Hits Seven-Year Worst Deterioration

Delhi and the National Capital Region experienced a sharp deterioration in air quality during the first week of November 2026, marking a 104% increase in pollution indicators and the steepest decline in seven years. The Central Pollution Control Board reported that the city's air quality index remained in the very poor to severe categories through November 8, coinciding with the Diwali festival.

Pollution levels peaked in areas such as Punjabi Bagh and Jahangirpuri, where readings reached 450. The surge extended across the National Capital Region, with Noida and Ghaziabad seeing increases of approximately 91%, while Gurugram and Greater Noida rose by 82.5% and 79.9% respectively. Outside the region, Kolkata recorded a 40% increase in pollution, though other major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru saw declines.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences of India attributed the haze to a combination of transport emissions and stubble burning. Satellite data detected 2,251 farm fires in Punjab and Haryana between October 1 and November 4, though some reports suggest this figure is an underestimate. The Air Quality Early Warning System predicts that pollution will remain in the severe or very poor categories through November 15.