• Source:JND
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Delhi Air Pollution: Despite a slight improvement in air quality, Delhi's air remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, with the National Capital Region (NCR) recording an average AQI of 341, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi.

November 2025 has been particularly harsh, as not a single drop of rain fell throughout the month, exacerbating the pollution levels. This marks the worst air quality of the month in the last 11 years. Up until Saturday, Delhi had recorded poor air quality for 29 out of 30 days, with AQI levels in the 'Poor', 'Very Poor', or 'Severe' categories every day. On Saturday, the AQI remained in the 'Very Poor' category for the 16th consecutive day, setting a new record for consecutive 'Very Poor' AQI days between 2015 and 2025. Forecasts predict the streak will continue into Sunday, the 17th day.

Zero Rainfall, Toxic Air In Delhi-NCR

November saw no rainfall, which compounded the region’s pollution problems, leaving residents to breathe toxic air throughout the month. There was not a single day in November with an AQI in the 'Good', 'Satisfactory', or 'Moderate' categories. While the number of 'Severe' days decreased slightly compared to previous years, the number of 'Very Poor' days this November was the highest recorded in the past 11 years.

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Despite these grim figures, it is important to note that the average AQI for the month, while very high, was not the worst seen in the last decade.

Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Air Quality In November (2015-2025): 

Here's a Breakdown of AQI Categories by Year and Number of Days.

Year Good Satisfactory Moderate Poor Very Poor Severe
2025 0 0 0 2 24 3
2024 0 0 0 0 22 8
2023 0 0 0 4 17 9
2022 0 0 0 12 15 3
2021 0 0 0 2 16 12
2020 0 0 2 10 9 9
2019 0 1 3 8 11 7
2018 0 0 1 7 17 5
2017 0 0 0 3 20 7
2016 0 0 0 3 17 10
2015 0 0 0 3 21 6

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High AQI Recorded In Industrial Areas

Industrial zones in the NCR experienced even worse air quality, with areas like Bawana reporting an AQI of 364, Narela at 387, and Okhla Phase 2 at 340. These zones had significantly higher AQI values than the city’s average, reflecting the severe impact of pollution from industrial emissions.

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