On Sunday afternoon, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 373, categorizing it as 'very poor.' Notably, 15 monitoring stations reported 'severe' levels exceeding 400.
The affected stations include Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Burari, Chandni Chowk, Mathura Road, Dwarka, Nehru Nagar, Okhla, Punjabi Bagh, Pusa, RK Puram, Rohini, Siri Fort, Vivek Vihar, and Wazirpur, as per data from the Sameer application, which offers hourly updates from the Central Pollution Control Board.
The city remains shrouded in thick winter smog, significantly impairing visibility, while temperatures linger around 20.6 degrees Celsius, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Central government’s Air Quality Early Warning System has predicted that pollution levels will stay 'very poor' at least until Tuesday, as reported by a local media outlet.
Delhi recorded an AQI of 303 on Saturday, a rise from 218 the previous day.
AQI values range from 0 to 50 for 'good' air quality, 51 to 100 for 'satisfactory,' and 101 to 200 for 'moderate.' As the index climbs, air quality worsens, with 201 to 300 indicating 'poor,' and 301 to 400 denoting 'very poor.' Levels between 401 and 450 signify 'severe' pollution, while anything above 450 is classified as 'severe plus.'
Air quality in Delhi typically declines sharply during winter months, often ranking as the world's most polluted capital. Factors contributing to this crisis include stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, firecracker usage, vehicular emissions, lower temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and pollution from industries and coal-fired power plants.
In response to the escalating pollution, Delhi has implemented a ban on the entry of commercial goods vehicles, except those powered by CNG, LNG, or electricity and compliant with BS-VI standards, as reported by a local media channel. This restriction, issued on October 17 by the Commission for Air Quality Management, took effect on November 1.
Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS norms) are regulations established by the Indian government to limit air pollutants from vehicles. The higher the Bharat Stage, the stricter the emissions standards.
Criticism of Cloud Seeding Initiative
On Sunday, the Congress party criticized the Delhi government's Rs 34-crore winter cloud-seeding initiative, labeling it a 'cruel joke.'
Party leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the project contradicts expert recommendations from various government agencies.
In a social media post, he referenced a December 5 response in the Rajya Sabha from the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, indicating that three specialized agencies—the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the India Meteorological Department—had all advised against winter cloud seeding to enhance Delhi’s air quality.
Ramesh also mentioned a detailed report from the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, released on October 31, 2025, which concluded that cloud seeding would not effectively improve air quality in Delhi.
He remarked that any minor improvement in a limited area for a short duration, as currently claimed, is indeed a 'cruel joke.'
The Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, had previously attempted cloud seeding as part of its air quality management strategy.
Cloud seeding involves using chemical agents like silver iodide, dry ice, and even table salt to condense clouds and increase rainfall chances.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described cloud seeding as 'a necessity for Delhi' on October 24.
The Delhi Govt has spent Rs 34 crore on a winter cloud seeding experiment in order to improve air quality.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 2, 2025
On Dec 5, 2024, the Union Minister of State of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change had answered a question in the Rajya Sabha saying that 3 specialised agencies - the… pic.twitter.com/nzu1eFb8xC
On Tuesday, two cloud-seeding trials were conducted over northwest Delhi’s Burari, Mayur Vihar, and Karol Bagh at 12:13 PM and 3:45 PM, but no rainfall was recorded.
Another trial scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to insufficient moisture in the clouds.
The cloud seeding project has been collaboratively developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Delhi government.
IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal noted that the low moisture content in clouds significantly reduced the likelihood of inducing rain. However, he mentioned that data from 15 monitoring stations after Tuesday's seeding indicated a 6%-10% decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 levels.
Experts have consistently pointed out that this experiment is not a 'very practical' solution for air pollution, as it is costly, can only cover a limited area, and requires specific meteorological conditions.
They also emphasized that any relief from pollution through artificial rain is merely temporary.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to take immediate action to combat pollution in the capital, describing the city as enveloped in a 'grey shroud.'
Returning to the Delhi air from Wayanad first, then Bachwara in Bihar is truly shocking. The pollution enveloping this city is like a grey shroud thrown over it.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 2, 2025
It’s really about time all of us get together regardless of our political compulsions and do something about it. The…
Measures to Combat Pollution
On October 19, the Commission for Air Quality Management implemented Stage 2 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan to mitigate pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.
The Graded Response Action Plan consists of a series of incremental anti-pollution measures activated to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it surpasses a certain threshold in the Delhi-NCR region.
The second stage of this plan includes a ban on coal and firewood usage, including tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries. It also prohibits diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services.
Additional measures involve mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling to minimize dust, along with intensified inspections to enforce strict dust control at construction and demolition sites.
The restrictions under Stage 2 also encompass those from the first stage, which was enacted on October 14.
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