Delhi breathes cleanest air during January-March in 5 years

Delhi recorded its best average Air Quality Index (AQI) for March 2025, with a reading of 170, marking a six-point improvement from 2024, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced on Monday.

According to CAQM, the January-March quarter of 2025 also registered the best AQI levels in the past five years (since 2020). “March 2025 witnessed the best average AQI in Delhi at 170. The average AQI for March in previous years stood at 223 in 2021, 217 in 2022, 170 in 2023, and 176 in 2024,” the statement noted.

Additionally, the average AQI for the January-March quarter of 2025 was the lowest in five years, standing at 231. This marked an improvement over 250 in 2024, 240 in 2023, 241 in 2022, and 278 in 2021.

Notably, the first quarter of 2025 did not record a single day with AQI levels exceeding 400, a stark contrast to previous years. In 2024, there were three such days, while 2023, 2022, and 2021 saw three, one, and six days above 400, respectively.

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The National Capital also recorded 36 days with AQI levels below 200 in the first quarter of 2025, a significant improvement from 13 days in 2021, 27 days in 2022, and 35 days in 2023. However, this figure was slightly lower than 2024, which recorded 41 such days.

CAQM reiterated its commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to implement effective measures aimed at controlling and reducing air pollution, ensuring sustained improvement in air quality across the National Capital Region (NCR).

(With inputs from PTI)