New Delhi: Delhi recorded an average AQI of 166 in October 2026, its lowest October reading in eight years. The Central Government said the figure marked an improvement over every October since 2018. The average stood at 223 in 2025 and 234 in 2024.
According to data released by the Press Information Bureau on October 31, Delhi’s October average AQI was 219 in 2023 and 210 in 2022. It was 173 in 2021, 265 in 2020, 234 in 2019 and 269 in 2018.
For the January 1 to October 31 period, the average AQI stood at 167 in 2026. This was lower than the readings of 170 in 2025, 184 in 2024 and 172 in 2023. The corresponding averages were 187 in 2022, 179 in 2021, 156 in 2020, 192 in 2019 and 201 in 2018.
The average PM2.5 concentration from January 1 to October 29 was 69 micrograms per cubic metre. This was below the 72 recorded in 2025 and 83 in 2024. The corresponding figures were 76 in 2023, 81 in 2022, 82 in 2021, 71 in 2020, 88 in 2019 and 93 in 2018.
However, the average PM10 concentration during the same period was 171 micrograms per cubic metre. This was higher than the 166 recorded in 2025 and 147 in 2020. The figures for 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were 186, 174, 191 and 182, respectively. Delhi recorded 197 in 2019 and 216 in 2018.
Delhi records more good to moderate AQI days
Delhi recorded 220 days in the good to moderate AQI categories between January and October 2026. These were days when the daily average AQI remained below 200. The count was higher than the 200 days recorded in 2025 and 201 in 2024.
The corresponding counts were 206 in 2023, 160 in 2022 and 197 in 2021. Delhi recorded 224 such days in 2020, 175 in 2019 and 157 in 2018. Excluding 2020, the 2026 count was the highest since 2018.
The city also recorded 84 poor to severe-plus AQI days during January–October 2026. These were days when the daily average AQI exceeded 200. The count was lower than the 104 days recorded in both 2025 and 2024.
Delhi had 98 such days in 2023, 144 in 2022 and 107 in 2021. The figures were 81 in 2020, 129 in 2019 and 147 in 2018.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is working with stakeholders to prevent, control and reduce air pollution across Delhi-NCR. It said these efforts would be intensified to further improve air quality in the coming days.
