Tags:EnvironmentDelhi
For Prelims: Air Quality Index, PM2.5, Crop-residue burning, Central Pollution Control Board
For Mains: Environment: Air pollution and air quality index; Governance: Pollution control institutions
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- Delhi recorded an AQI of 350 at 5 p.m. on 12 November 2026.
- Ten of Delhi's 59 monitoring stations recorded an AQI above 400.
- Rohini recorded an AQI of 475.
- Firecrackers contributed 80% of PM2.5 pollution during the specified early hours of 9 November.
- The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI of 401–500 as severe.
The news
Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 350 at 5 p.m. on 12 November 2026, the worst post-Diwali reading in recent years, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Ten of the city's 59 monitoring stations crossed the severe threshold of 400, with Rohini recording 475 and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi recording 472. The CPCB classifies AQI 401–500 as severe.
The spike came despite a decline in crop-residue burning in Punjab. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Agricultural Research Institute reported 1,152 farm-fire incidents in Punjab on 8 November, 198 on 9 November, 345 on 10 November and 515 on 11 November. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology attributed 80% of PM2.5 pollution between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. on 9 November to firecrackers, even though the Supreme Court had permitted firecracker use only from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Diwali. The Delhi government has been spraying water in different parts of the city to reduce airborne dust, while the India Meteorological Department has forecast morning haze and light fog for the coming days.
Why in the news?
Delhi's AQI hit 350 on 12 November 2026, the worst post-Diwali level, even as Punjab farm-fire incidents declined, highlighting that firecrackers and local sources remain dominant contributors to the capital's winter pollution.
How is AQI classified?
The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI into six bands: 0–50 is good, 51–100 satisfactory, 101–200 moderate, 201–300 poor, 301–400 very poor and 401–500 severe. Delhi's 24-hour average AQI was 376 on 8 November, 344 on 9 November and 313 on 11 November 2026, according to CPCB data.
What do station-level readings reveal?
While the city-wide AQI of 350 falls in the very poor category, 10 of Delhi's 59 monitoring stations recorded readings above 400, the severe threshold. Rohini and IIT Delhi registered 475 and 472 respectively. Station-level and time-specific readings can differ significantly from city-wide averages, and a severe reading at one station does not automatically apply to the entire city.
What are the distinct pollution sources?
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology data showed that firecrackers contributed 80% of PM2.5 between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. on 9 November, well beyond the permitted 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. window. Punjab farm-fire incidents, though lower than in previous years, fluctuated daily. The Delhi government's water-spraying measures target dust, but enforcement of firecracker timings and regional coordination on crop-residue burning remain open challenges.
Central Pollution Control Board AQI categories
| Category | AQI range |
|---|---|
| Good | 0–50 |
| Satisfactory | 51–100 |
| Moderate | 101–200 |
| Poor | 201–300 |
| Very poor | 301–400 |
| Severe | 401–500 |
Facts and terms for exams
- Air Quality Index:
- An index that communicates ambient air quality through a numerical value and associated health-based categories.
- PM2.5:
- Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less; these fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.
- Crop-residue burning:
- The burning of agricultural material left in fields after harvesting, which releases smoke and particulate pollutants.
- Central Pollution Control Board:
- India's statutory pollution-control body that monitors environmental quality and advises on pollution prevention and control.
Why it matters for exams
Syllabus: Environment: Air pollution and air quality index; Governance: Pollution control institutions
Common mistake: Examiners may swap the very poor and severe categories: AQI 350 is very poor, while 401–500 is severe. The 80% figure applies to a specified early-morning period, not the entire day.
Mains question
Delhi's AQI remained in the very poor category after Diwali despite a drop in Punjab farm fires. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of current measures to control urban air pollution from multiple sources.
Stuck? Get it in one tap
The Air Quality Index expresses how polluted the air is. Delhi's reading of 350 was very poor, while some individual stations crossed into the severe category. Fine particles called PM2.5 came from several sources; firecrackers were a major contributor during a specified period after Diwali.
- Delhi recorded an AQI of 350 at 5 p.m. on 12 November 2026.
- Ten of Delhi's 59 monitoring stations recorded an AQI above 400.
- Rohini recorded an AQI of 475.
- Firecrackers contributed 80% of PM2.5 pollution during the specified early hours of 9 November.
- The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI of 401–500 as severe.
- Environment: Air pollution and air quality index
- Governance: Pollution control institutions
Related concepts: Air Quality Index, PM2.5, Crop-residue burning, Central Pollution Control Board
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which body provided the AQI category classification used for Delhi's November 2026 air-quality readings?
Explanation: The Central Pollution Control Board provided the AQI category bands. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology assessed the firecracker contribution, the India Meteorological Department forecast weather, and the agricultural research institute counted farm fires.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements about Delhi's air quality in November 2026:
- 1.An AQI of 301–400 is classified as very poor.
- 2.Delhi's city-wide AQI of 350 on 12 November was in the severe category.
- 3.Rohini recorded an AQI of 475.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct: the very poor band is 301–400 and Rohini recorded 475. Statement 2 is incorrect because 350 is very poor; severe begins at 401.
- Q3Medium
What share of PM2.5 pollution was attributed to firecrackers in Delhi between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. on 9 November 2026?
Explanation: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology attributed 80% of PM2.5 pollution during that specified period to firecrackers. The other percentages do not match that estimate.
- Q4Medium
What does Delhi's November 2026 air-pollution pattern suggest about pollution control?
Explanation: Firecracker emissions and dust require attention alongside crop-residue fires. Farm-fire counts alone do not determine air quality, and individual station readings can differ from a city-wide value.
Frequently asked questions
1. What was Delhi's AQI on 12 November 2026?
Delhi's AQI was 350 at 5 p.m., placing it in the very poor category.
2. How much did firecrackers contribute to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution after Diwali?
Firecrackers accounted for 80% of PM2.5 pollution between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. on 9 November 2026.
3. Which Delhi monitoring station recorded the highest AQI?
Rohini recorded an AQI of 475, the highest among the stations cited.
4. What are the very poor and severe AQI ranges?
An AQI of 301–400 is very poor, while 401–500 is severe.
All sources
- Original12 November 2026 · Read story
