Delhi Sees Second-Cleanest January Since 2022 Despite CREA Flagging Marginal AQI Increase

Delhi has posted its second-best January for air quality since 2022, even as pollution levels this year have inched slightly higher than last year.

An analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows that the capital's average Air Quality Index till January 30, 2026 stands at 307, marginally worse than the 306 recorded during the same period in January 2025.

CREA analysis highlights marginal rise in AQI

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, January 2025 remains the cleanest January in recent years after 2022, with a monthly average AQI of 306. In comparison, January 2026 now ranks as the second-best January since 2022, when the monthly average AQI had stood at 279.

Fewer very poor days but severe episodes return

Data for January 2026 shows that Delhi recorded two days with "moderate" air quality, 12 "poor" days, 14 "very poor" days and two "severe" days. Last year, the capital had two "moderate" days, 13 "poor" days and 16 "very poor" days, with no "severe" days reported at all during the month.

Severe days push average pollution higher

The analysis suggests that the presence of two "severe" air quality days in January 2026, compared to none in January 2025, likely played a key role in pushing the overall monthly average AQI slightly higher this year, despite a similar distribution of other pollution categories.

Very poor air likely to persist

The air quality early warning system has forecast "very poor" air quality for January 31, indicating that pollution levels are expected to remain elevated in the immediate term. As per the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI values between 0 and 50 are classified as "good", 51 to 100 as "satisfactory", 101 to 200 as "moderate", 201 to 300 as "poor", 301 to 400 as "very poor" and 401 to 500 as "severe".