Delhi-NCR woke up to a blanket of haze on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, as air quality slipped into the 'poor' category following the Dussehra festivities, with the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) forecasting the deterioration to persist until 23 October. Visibility dropped across several parts of the national capital as a combination of post-festival emissions and shifting weather conditions pushed pollution levels higher.

Current AQI Readings and What They Mean

The national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 179 on Tuesday, placing it in the 'moderate' category, before crossing into 'poor' territory. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 201 and 300 constitutes 'poor' — a level at which sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, may experience significant health effects.

Notably, Delhi last recorded 'poor' air quality on 13 July, when the AQI touched 246. Wednesday's dip marks a return to that zone after roughly three months of relatively cleaner air.

Stubble Burning Adds to the Pollution Load

Stubble burning has re-emerged as a key seasonal contributor. According to the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, 19 incidents of crop residue burning were recorded across six monitored states earlier this month. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh reported seven incidents each, Madhya Pradesh accounted for four, and Haryana recorded one.

Farmers routinely burn crop stubble to clear fields ahead of the next sowing cycle — typically wheat and vegetables — a practice that, when combined with calm winds and a temperature inversion, sends pollutants drifting into the Delhi airshed. This comes amid the onset of conditions that historically concentrate pollution over the region through the winter months.

Temperature Dips Below Normal Across Stations

Temperatures in the capital have also fallen below seasonal averages at multiple stations. Safdarjung, Delhi's primary meteorological reference point, recorded a maximum of 31.8°C — 0.8°C below normal — and a minimum of 17.7°C, 0.7°C below the seasonal average. Palam saw a maximum of 29.3°C, a sharper 3.5°C below normal, while Lodhi Road registered 31.4°C at its peak, 0.6°C below normal.

The weather department has forecast no rainfall over the next week, with mainly clear skies expected on 21, 22 and 23 October and partly cloudy conditions on 24 and 25 October. The absence of rain removes a natural mechanism for washing pollutants out of the atmosphere, raising the risk of further accumulation depending on wind speed.

Delhi Government's Winter Action Plan: Key Measures

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's administration has announced a seasonal pollution action plan running from 1 November to 28 February. Among the headline measures is a 'No Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), No Fuel' policy, which will prohibit petrol pumps from dispensing fuel to vehicles without a valid pollution certificate. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be deployed at fuel stations to support enforcement.

From 1 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the city. CNG and electric vehicles will be exempt. Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities will similarly be banned during the same window, with a complete construction and demolition ban in force from 10 December to 20 January.

The plan also proposes a 50% work-from-home arrangement for offices to reduce vehicular emissions during the peak pollution season. With winter still weeks away, the measures represent an early signal that authorities expect the seasonal crisis to escalate — and are bracing for it.