Stubble Burning Declines, Delhi’s Air Quality Shows Modest Improvement

Despite a lingering haze, Delhi's air quality showed a marginal improvement on Wednesday, shifting from the "very poor" to the "poor" category. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 230, offering a small respite after days of choking pollution.

Officials attributed the improvement to a decline in stubble burning incidents and the enforcement of environmental fines, but warned that air pollution remains a severe challenge for the National Capital Region (NCR).

Patchy Relief Across the City

While some improvement was noted, pollution levels remained worrisome in several pockets of the city. Areas such as ITO and Akshardham recorded AQI levels around 281 in the morning-better than Tuesday's 291 but still well above safe limits. Earlier in the week, Delhi had suffered through three consecutive days of "very poor" air, with AQI readings of 366 on Sunday and 309 on Monday.

NCR Pollution Hotspots

Several NCR regions continued to struggle with high pollution levels. Monitoring stations in Alipur, Wazirpur, Bawana, and Anand Vihar registered "severe" air quality on Tuesday, with AQI readings ranging between 402 and 421. Experts say that post-Diwali weather patterns-marked by low wind speeds and cooler temperatures-are trapping pollutants close to the surface, worsening smog conditions.

Since October 20, air quality across Delhi and its suburbs has fluctuated between "poor" and "very poor," underscoring the persistent pollution problem that typically engulfs the region in winter.

Decline in Stubble Burning

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported a sharp decline in stubble burning this year compared to the previous season. Between September 15 and November 3, Punjab recorded 2,518 farm fires, down from 4,132 last year. Haryana also reported a significant drop-from 857 to 145 incidents during the same period.

Authorities have conducted inspections across more than 2,200 fields and imposed environmental fines totalling ₹55.75 lakh on violators. Officials believe this enforcement has contributed to the modest improvement in Delhi's air.

National Air Quality Outlook

However, air pollution remains a national crisis. A recent report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that air quality across India worsened in October 2025. Dharuhera in Haryana topped the list as the most polluted city, logging two "severe" and nine "very poor" days. Other NCR cities-including Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Noida, Ballabgarh, and Delhi-also featured among the worst performers.

Delhi ranked sixth nationwide in October's pollution charts, with its PM2.5 concentrations three times higher than those recorded in September. The data paints a stark picture of India's growing air pollution crisis, with experts calling for long-term strategies to tackle emissions, curb crop burning, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

While Wednesday's improvement may offer brief relief, the capital's battle for cleaner air is far from over.