Planning a weekend outing? Delhi’s AQI hits 303 — Read these government guidelines first

As people look forward to weekends to unwind, rejuvenate, and find inner peace, Delhi’s air quality remains an important factor to consider. While certain parts of Delhi-NCR continue to experience early-morning smog with very poor to severe air quality levels, residents can still plan their outings thoughtfully.

If you are stepping out to enjoy the weekend, the government advises following recommended precautionary measures to ensure a safe and pleasant experience.

Precautionary measures to stay safe as AQI levels rise

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• Reschedule outdoor activities as per AQI, and remain indoors on days with poor to severe AQl.
• Use face mask like disposable N95 or N99. Masks should have proper fitting on users' mouth and nose. Ensure to replace the masks after usage as instructed.
• Make sure that paper masks, handkerchief, scarves and cloth are not effective.
• Check the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) of your area before planning your day out.
• If suffering from any disease, keep the prescribed medications readily available.
• Keep washing your eyes with running water regularly and do regular gargles with lukewarm water.
• Avoid using an air purifier that works by generating ozone. as it increases pollution inside rooms.

What NOT to do during high pollution days in Delhi-NCR

• Visiting places with high air pollution like roads with slow & heavy traffic, areas near polluting industries, construction-demolition sites.
• Outdoor morning and late evening walk. run, jog and physical exercise.
• Opening external doors and windows during morning and late evening hours, it may ventilate if necessary, between l2 pm to 4 pm in aftenoon (If your city is under poor to severe category).
• Burning mosquito coils and incense sticks in closed premises.
• Smoking cigarettes, bidis and related tobacco products.
• Open burning of any form of wood, leaves, crop residues, & waste.
• Outdoor morning and late evening walk, run, jog and physical exercise.
• Burning biomass such as wood, coal, animal dung, kerosene.

Delhi’s morning air quality remains in ‘very poor’ category

The average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 303, placing it firmly in the “very poor” category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Despite a marginal improvement compared to recent weeks, large parts of Delhi continued to be enveloped in dense toxic smog.

Areas such as Anand Vihar and ITO recorded heavy haze early in the morning, with visibility significantly reduced.

As per the from CPCB, many regions in Delhi and surrounding areas remain in the higher range of the 'very poor' category.

Several key monitoring stations reported high AQI levels:

• Ashok Vihar: 322
• Bawana: 352
• Burari: 318
• Chandni Chowk: 307
• Dwarka: 307

The readings highlight the widespread and persistent nature of pollution across Delhi-NCR.

How AQI is categorised?

According to Centre Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks.

• 0-50: good
• 51-100: satisfactory
• 101-200: moderate
• 201-300: poor,
• 301-400: very poor
• 401-500: severe

Government responds to concerns over health impact of Delhi’s toxic air

Further intensifying its efforts to combat the deteriorating air quality in the national capital and adjoining regions, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a formal statement addressing rising pollution levels in Delhi.

The clarification came in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpayee, who sought to know whether “one in every seven deaths in Delhi can be attributed to the city’s toxic air,” as reported by several studies.

Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh noted that multiple academic and research institutions have conducted studies on air pollution and its health impacts. He added that in 2025, not a single day saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) reach the ‘severe-plus’ category in Delhi.

Centre highlights measures taken through CAQM, GRAP and stricter norms

The government emphasised that a series of policy-level and regulatory interventions are underway to address pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) constituted under the 2021 Act, continues to oversee air quality management through a coordinated and participatory approach involving all key stakeholders.

Since the beginning, the Commission has issued 95 Statutory Directions as a means to induce pollution reduction actions of a specific kind. Additionally, it has the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in place to deal with seasonal peaks, particularly in winters.

Additionally, the Centre has enforced stricter emission norms across polluting sectors in NCR and conducts regular review meetings to monitor implementation and progress.