Delhi again falls into the most severe smog category
The official air quality index rose to 403 on Friday, after three days of further deterioration.
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Air quality in the Indian capital Delhi deteriorated on Friday to the ‘severe’ category. The official index stood at 403, while individual monitoring stations recorded readings above 450.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average Air Quality Index rose from 299 on 10 November to 313 on 11 November, 350 on 12 November and 403 on Friday. India’s classification calls readings of 401 to 500 ‘severe’, a level at which the entire population may experience health risks.
The deterioration follows the Diwali celebrations on 8 November, but the sequence of readings also shows the role of weather conditions. Falling temperatures and light winds keep pollutants closer to the ground for longer. The available sources therefore do not attribute the rise to a single cause.
Show the figures
| Delhi | |
|---|---|
| 10 Nov | 299AQI |
| 11 Nov | 313AQI |
| 12 Nov | 350AQI |
| 13 Nov | 403AQI |
The CPCB reported that 33 of Delhi’s 58 monitoring stations were in the most severe category on Friday. An AQI of 487 was recorded at IIT Delhi. Chandni Chowk and North Campus recorded 476 and 476 respectively, according to the CPCB.
The Air Quality Early Warning System of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology warns that at an AQI of 401 to 500, the entire population is likely to be affected. The system describes the index as a warning of emergency conditions, but the index itself is not a diagnosis of individual health damage.
The development is above all a policy problem: the capital combines emissions from traffic, industry, dust and seasonal smoke with conditions that hinder dispersion. The figures show how quickly the situation is deteriorating, but not the precise share of each source. For the Netherlands, the news is chiefly relevant as a recurring example of the combination of air policy and extreme weather in large cities.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Delhi’s official AQI reached 403.
- According to the CPCB, 33 of 58 monitoring stations were in the most severe category.
- The index rose over four consecutive measurement days.
Left
Arguments The figures underline the need for stricter emissions controls and protection for vulnerable groups, even if measures limit economic activity.
Values Public health, environmental justice and prevention.
Consequences More regulation of traffic, industry and agricultural fires, with the costs falling chiefly on polluting sectors and governments.
Centre
Arguments A combination of temporary emergency measures and long-term policy is needed to address both acute pollution peaks and prolonged exposure.
Values Effectiveness, feasibility and institutional coordination.
Consequences Targeted restrictions during peaks, alongside investment in monitoring and structural emissions reductions.
Right
Arguments The government should primarily enforce rules against concrete sources and prevent broad restrictions from unnecessarily bringing the economy and mobility to a standstill.
Values Individual responsibility, economic continuity and proportionate government.
Consequences Greater emphasis on local enforcement and technology, with fewer general restrictions for residents and businesses.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The sequence of AQI readings, the classification and the monitoring stations were checked directly against the named sources. The text avoids attributing the situation to a single cause and provides no individual medical advice.
- confirmed Delhi’s average AQI stood at 403 on Friday. — NDTV cites CPCB data giving an average AQI of 403. source
- confirmed The readings were 299, 313 and 350 on 10, 11 and 12 November. — The sequence of readings appears in the NDTV article. source
- confirmed 33 of 58 stations were in the severe category. — NDTV reports this on the basis of CPCB data. source
- confirmed At an AQI of 401–500, the entire population is likely to be affected. — This appears in the health interpretation provided by India’s Early Warning System. source
Editor's note
The readings and categories come from CPCB data as presented by NDTV. The sources confirm severe air pollution, but do not provide a complete breakdown of the causes.Sources
- Delhi air pollution: AQI reaches 403 in severe category — NDTV
- Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi — Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology