New Delhi – The national capital is celebrating Diwali 2025 under the shadow of deteriorating Delhi air quality, with the city experiencing toxic pollution levels that have triggered Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan. As residents prepared for the festival of lights, the Air Quality Index plunged into the “very poor” category, raising serious health concerns across the Delhi-NCR region.
On Sunday evening, as Diwali festivities began, Delhi air quality worsened significantly with 24 out of 38 monitoring stations recording pollution levels in the “very poor” category. The situation became particularly alarming at Anand Vihar, which entered the “severe” zone with AQI readings crossing the 400 mark, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Monday Morning Reveals Persistent Pollution Crisis
The deterioration in Delhi air quality continued into Monday morning, with most monitoring stations recording AQI levels above 300. Anand Vihar maintained its position as the worst-affected area, with readings remaining above 400, indicating severe pollution levels that pose significant health risks to residents.
Based on CPCB readings at 6 am on Monday, October 20, Anand Vihar station recorded the worst AQI at 414, while Sri Aurobindo Marg station logged the best reading at 158. The data revealed that 29 stations fell into the “very poor” category, highlighting the widespread nature of the pollution crisis affecting Delhi air quality.
Breaking Down the AQI Distribution Across Delhi
The monitoring data from Monday morning painted a grim picture of Delhi air quality across the capital. Only one station recorded AQI in the “severe” category above 400, but this was accompanied by 29 stations in the “very poor” range between 301 and 400. Four stations fell into the “poor” category with readings between 201 and 300, while merely one station managed to stay in the “moderate” or better category with readings below 200.
The CPCB categorization system classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and 401 to 500 as “severe.” The current Delhi air quality situation shows the majority of the city firmly entrenched in unhealthy pollution levels.
Diwali Eve Witnesses Sharp Decline in Air Standards
The progression of pollution on Diwali eve demonstrated how rapidly Delhi air quality can deteriorate. According to CPCB data, the capital’s AQI stood at 296 at 4 pm on Sunday, falling within the “poor” category. However, by 10 pm, the situation had worsened considerably, with the AQI climbing to 306, officially entering the “very poor” category and triggering red zone alerts.
This sharp decline coincided with increased festive activities and the bursting of firecrackers, despite restrictions and guidelines intended to protect Delhi air quality during the celebration period.
Grap 2 Enforcement to Combat Pollution
In response to the declining Delhi air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan across Delhi-NCR on Sunday evening. This action followed the implementation of Grap 1 on October 14, as authorities attempted to prevent further deterioration of pollution levels.
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Stage 2 of Grap includes twelve preventive measures designed to mitigate air pollution. Key restrictions include stricter enforcement on diesel generator set usage, prohibiting interstate buses except EVs, CNG, or BS-VI diesel vehicles from entering Delhi, and enhanced parking fees to discourage private transport usage. These measures aim to improve Delhi air quality through multiple intervention points.
Supreme Court Permits Controlled Firecracker Use
The Supreme Court’s recent decision allowing green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during Diwali with specific conditions has had a visible impact on Delhi air quality. The court permitted the use of green crackers within designated hours: 6 am to 7 pm and 8 am to 10 pm on the day before Diwali and on the festival day itself.
While intended as a compromise between tradition and environmental protection, the permission to burst firecrackers has contributed to the current pollution levels, demonstrating the challenge of balancing cultural celebrations with Delhi air quality concerns.
Weather Conditions and Temperature Readings
The India Meteorological Department recorded a maximum temperature of 33.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which was 0.9 degrees above the seasonal average. The minimum temperature settled at 20.6 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees above normal. These elevated temperatures, combined with poor air circulation, have contributed to the stagnation affecting Delhi air quality.
The IMD forecast indicates mist for Monday morning, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 33 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius respectively. Such weather conditions typically trap pollutants close to the ground, further compromising Delhi air quality and creating a hazardous environment for residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions.
Regional Pollution Contributing to Capital’s Crisis
Data from the Decision Support System reveals that pollution from neighboring NCR towns represents a major contributing factor to the overall Delhi air quality crisis. This regional dimension highlights that addressing the pollution problem requires coordinated action across the entire NCR, not just within Delhi’s boundaries, making it a complex challenge requiring multi-jurisdictional cooperation and enforcement.
