Delhi Breathes Easier: City Records Best Air Quality in 8 Years, Thanks to Science-Led Action
Image Source: Internet
New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Thursday that the national capital has achieved its best air quality in eight years, with significant improvements in PM2.5 and PM10 levels. According to Sirsa, the PM2.5 levels dropped from 104 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024 to 96 in 2025, while PM10 levels fell from 212 micrograms per cubic meter to 197 during the same period. The government's science-led approach, which prioritized vehicular emissions, dust pollution, industrial emissions, and waste management, has yielded impressive results. Delhi recorded around 200 days in 2025 with an air quality index (AQI) below 200, representing a 15% improvement compared to the previous four years. Notably, 79 days fell in the 'good' and 'satisfactory' zones, with the January-to-November average AQI standing at 187, the best in eight years, excluding the COVID-impacted year of 2020. The Central Pollution Control Board's AQI classification system shows that the number of 'severe' air pollution days dropped to eight in 2025, the lowest in recent years. The government's sustained and targeted interventions have led to a marked reduction in air pollution. Key initiatives include intensified dust mitigation, stricter monitoring of construction sites, and stepped-up action against vehicular pollution, resulting in over 12,000 challans issued in the last 24 hours alone. Industrial pollution was addressed through ward-level surveys, while waste management efforts were strengthened by doubling the garbage lifting frequency and accelerating bio-mining of legacy waste at landfill sites. The government also explored innovation-driven measures, including cloud seeding trials and open challenges for pollution-mitigating technologies. As Delhi gears up for 2026, the government plans to focus on stricter implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), technology pilots, and greater citizen participation to sustain the gains achieved in air quality.
