PIB · Government of India ·

Delhi Records Lowest September Average AQI in Five Years as Air Quality Improvement Trend Continues into 2026

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The period from January to September 2026 witnessed the lowest number of 'Poor to Severe+' air quality days at 79 days, with average PM2.5 concentration dropping to 69 µg/m³.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

Delhi recorded a monthly average AQI of 102 for September 2026. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is the statutory body regulating air quality in the National Capital Region.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Evaluate the efficacy of institutional mechanisms like the CAQM and graded action plans in addressing the persistent air pollution crisis in the Indo-Gangetic plain.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Environment & Ecology

With reference to the air quality trends in Delhi for the period of January to September 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Delhi recorded its lowest monthly average AQI for September in the last five years (2022-2026). 2. The number of 'Poor to Severe+' air quality days during January to September 2026 was the lowest in the past five years. 3. The average PM2.5 concentration for the January to September 2026 period dropped to 50 µg/m³. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • [A] 1 only
  • [B] 1 and 2 only
  • [C] 2 and 3 only
  • [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [B] 1 and 2 only

Statement 1 is correct because Delhi recorded a monthly average AQI of 102 for September 2026, which is the lowest for the month of September over the five-year period from 2022 to 2026. Statement 2 is correct as the period from January to September 2026 witnessed the lowest number of 'Poor to Severe+' air quality days at 79 days compared to previous years. Statement 3 is incorrect because the average PM2.5 concentration for the January to September 2026 period was recorded at 69 µg/m³, not 50 µg/m³.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

National Air Quality Index (AQI): Evaluates air quality across 8 pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Statutory framework established under the CAQM Act 2021 for better co-ordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems surrounding air quality in NCR and adjoining areas.