In last 8 years, Delhi witnesses Best AQI figures in 2025 for the January – August period
In last 8 years, Delhi witnesses Best AQI figures in 2025 for the January – August period
Delhi-NCR has witnessed a sustained trend of improvement in the overall air quality. For the period between January – August 2025, Delhi has registered its best ever average AQI during the last 8 years – 2018 to 2025 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid).
The average AQI of Delhi during the January – August period has been recorded as 172 as against 187 in 2024, 174 in 2023, 194 in 2022, 192 in 2021, 147 in 2020, 199 in 2019, 203 in 2018 respectively, during the corresponding period.
This year, ‘Good-Satisfactory’ days for the month of August were 23 as against 19 days in 2018, 22 days in 2019, 31 days in 2020, 11 days in 2021, 18 days in 2022, 08 days in 2023, and 29 days 2024.
Aided by favourable meteorological conditions and efforts by different stakeholders, the average AQI (Air Quality Index) of Delhi for the month of August has also witnessed improvements over the years. The average AQI for the month of August recorded 89 in 2025, 72 in 2024, 116 in 2023, 93 in 2022, 107 in 2021, 64 in 2020, 86 in 2019 and 111 in 2018 respectively.
This period (January – August) in 2025 did not witness even a single day with average AQI more than 400 (‘Severe’ or ‘Severe+’ categories). There were 06, 07, 02, 06, 01, 03 and 03 such days during the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively.
Moreover, this period also witnessed highest number of ‘Satisfactory’ days i.e. 65 such days (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid), as against 40 days in 2018, 35 days in 2019, 87 days in 2020, 42 days in 2021, 50 days in 2022, 50 days in 2023, and 48 days in 2024;
The period from January – August (upto 27th August) has seen the lowest levels of PM2.5 concentration in Delhi compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid). Delhi witnessed PM2.5 running average of 74 µg/m3 in the current year as against 86 in 2024, 78 in 2023, 85 in 2022, 90 in 2021, 68 in 2020, 91 in 2019 and 95 in 2018 respectively.
Likewise, the period January – August also witnessed the lowest levels of PM10 concentration in Delhi compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid), recording a running average of 169 µg/m3 in the current year as against 192 in 2024, 176 in 2023, 201 in 2022, 198 in 2021, 136 in 2020, 206 in 2019 and 221 in 2018.
CAQM is working closely with various stakeholders concerned to take effective measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and to improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR and efforts would be intensified in an endeavour to further improve upon the air quality scenario in Delhi in the coming days.