(Image source from: PTI)

The quality of air in Delhi has slightly worsened this January when compared to last year. As of January 30, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) is 307, while it was 306 during the same time in 2025, based on a study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The study found that January 2025, with an average AQI of 306, was the best January for air quality since 2022, when the monthly average AQI was 279. January 2026 now holds the position of the second-best January since that time. So far this January 2026, Delhi has experienced two days of "moderate" air quality, 12 days of "poor" air quality, 14 days of "very poor" air quality, and two days of "severe" air quality, as reported by the study. In comparison, January 2025 had two days of "moderate" air quality, 13 days of "poor" air quality, and 16 days of "very poor" air quality, and there were no days classified as "severe" during that month.

The study suggested that the lack of "severe" days in January 2025, combined with two "severe" days in January this year, might have led to the slightly higher average AQI for 2026. The air quality early warning system has anticipated "very poor" air quality for January 31. The Central Pollution Control Board states that an AQI ranging from zero to 50 is viewed as "good," between 51 and 100 as "satisfactory," from 101 to 200 as "moderate," from 201 to 300 as "poor," from 301 to 400 as "very poor," and from 401 to 500 as "severe".