**Summary:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reports that Delhi's air quality has shown a sustained improvement trend. Data from January to August 2025 indicates the best average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the last eight years (2018-2025), excluding 2020 (the year of COVID-19 lockdown). The average AQI for this period was recorded at 172, compared to 187 in 2024, 174 in 2023, 194 in 2022, 192 in 2021, 147 in 2020, 199 in 2019, and 203 in 2018.
August 2025 saw 23 "Good-Satisfactory" days, contrasting with 19 in 2018, 22 in 2019, 31 in 2020, 11 in 2021, 18 in 2022, 8 in 2023 and 29 in 2024. The average AQI for August was 89 in 2025, compared to 72 in 2024, 116 in 2023, 93 in 2022, 107 in 2021, 64 in 2020, 86 in 2019, and 111 in 2018. Notably, the January-August 2025 period did not experience any days with an average AQI exceeding 400 ("Severe" or "Severe" categories).
Furthermore, the period witnessed the highest number of "Satisfactory" days (65), excluding 2020, compared to 40 in 2018, 35 in 2019, 87 in 2020, 42 in 2021, 50 in 2022, 50 in 2023 and 48 in 2024. The concentration of PM2.5 in Delhi was the lowest since 2018 (excluding 2020), with a running average of 74 µg/m3 in 2025, versus 86 in 2024, 78 in 2023, 85 in 2022, 90 in 2021, 68 in 2020, 91 in 2019, and 95 in 2018. Similarly, PM10 levels were the lowest since 2018 (excluding 2020), with a running average of 169 µg/m3 in 2025, compared to 192 in 2024, 176 in 2023, 201 in 2022, 198 in 2021, 136 in 2020, 206 in 2019, and 221 in 2018.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is collaborating with stakeholders to implement measures for air pollution prevention, control, and abatement in Delhi-NCR, with ongoing efforts to further improve air quality. Release ID: 2162795.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Delhi: A city and a union territory of India. It is the location where the AQI improvements are reported.
Air Quality Index (AQI): An index for reporting daily air quality. It indicates how clean or polluted the air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for.
DelhiNCR: The National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, encompassing Delhi and its surrounding districts/cities in neighboring states.
Covid: Refers to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, specifically mentioning the lockdown in 2020.
PM2.5: Particulate matter 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller, a common air pollutant.
PM10: Particulate matter 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller, a common air pollutant.
CAQM: Commission for Air Quality Management in DelhiNCR and Adjoining Areas, an organization working to improve air quality.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
In last 8 years, Delhi witnesses Best AQI figures in
2025 for the January - August period
Posted On: 01 SEP 2025 6:12PM by PIB Delhi
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;
th
The period from January – August (upto 27 August) has seen the lowest levels of PM concentration in
2.5
Delhi compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid).
3
Delhi witnessed PM running average of 74 µg/m in the current year as against 86 in 2024, 78 in 2023, 85
2.5
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 PM concentration in Delhi
10
compared to the corresponding period since 2018 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to Covid),
3
recording a running average of 169 µg/m 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.
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VM
(Release ID: 2162795)