Delhi: Delhi’s air quality performance this January has emerged as the second-best in the past five years, even as pollution levels showed a slight uptick compared to the same period last year, a new analysis has found.
According to an assessment by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the national capital recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 307 till January 30, marginally higher than the average of 306 logged during the corresponding days in January 2025. Despite the increase, January 2026 still ranks just behind last year in terms of cleaner air since 2022.
CREA data indicates that January 2025 remains the least polluted January in recent years, with a monthly average AQI of 306, improving significantly from January 2022, when the average stood at 279.
So far this month, Delhi has witnessed two days of “moderate” air quality, 12 days categorised as “poor,” 14 days marked “very poor,” and two days falling under the “severe” bracket. By contrast, the previous January saw a similar number of “moderate” days, slightly more “poor” days, and 16 “very poor” days, but no instances of “severe” pollution.
Experts noted that the appearance of two “severe” air quality days this year, absent in January 2025, likely pushed the overall average AQI marginally higher in 2026.
Looking ahead, the air quality early warning system has forecast “very poor” pollution levels for January 31, suggesting limited immediate relief for residents.
As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s classification, AQI values up to 50 are considered “good,” 51–100 “satisfactory,” 101–200 “moderate,” 201–300 “poor,” 301–400 “very poor,” and 401–500 “severe.”
