Delhi registered its lowest average air quality index (AQI) in the last three years for the January to mid-March period on Saturday, with an AQI of 85, the cleanest the city has seen in a long time.
According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the AQI was deemed “satisfactory” on the first day of 2025. In an X post, it stated, “Delhi has witnessed a ‘Satisfactory’ AQI in the month of March, for the first time in five years since 2020.”
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) states that an AQI of zero to fifty is deemed “good,” 51 to one hundred “satisfactory,” 101 to two hundred “moderate,” 201 to three hundred “poor,” 301 to four hundred “very poor,” and 401 to five hundred “severe.” As of 7 p.m. on Saturday, the Anand Vihar air quality sensor recorded an AQI of 80, according to the CPCB’s AQI monitor. Alipur has the lowest AQI of the day as of 7 p.m. in the capital.
It found that the air quality was “Good” at 48. The India Meteorological Department had predicted rain and thunderstorms on Saturday, with a minimum temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius for Delhi. The weather service forecasted a mostly cloudy sky with light rain for Sunday, March 16.
The lowest temperature was predicted to be about 17 degrees Celsius, and the highest was predicted to be about 32 degrees Celsius. Additionally, CAQM lifted the limitations imposed under Stage 1 of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) in light of the improved air quality.
The panel’s ruling stated: “Due to favourable winds, light rain or drizzle, and better weather conditions in Delhi-NCR, the AQI of Delhi has significantly improved.” In the ‘Satisfactory’ category, Delhi’s AQI for March 15, 2025, was 85. Additionally, the IMD/IITM projection indicates that the AQI will primarily stay in the “Satisfactory to Moderate” category during the next few days.
Additionally, CAQM has instructed all relevant authorities to maintain higher AQI levels in Delhi-NCR and prevent them from falling into the “poor” category.