Following Deepavali, pollution in Delhi inched close to a five-year low with average concentrations of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 across several locations crossing 400 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³) – levels not seen since 2021.
On Deepavali day, nine cities out of the 293 monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an air quality index (AQI) value of above 300, classed as ‘very poor’ air quality. On the day after Deepavali, Tuesday (for most of the country), this rose to 16 cities, according to data available on the organisation’s website. Nearly all of these fell in north India and in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Nationally, Dharuhera in Haryana reported the worst air quality index reading of 462 on Tuesday (October 21, 2025).
