Delhi’s air quality saw a significant improvement on Thursday morning after the national capital was shrouded in toxic smog for weeks, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 220 at 9 am today, according
to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
While the overall AQI remained in the ‘poor’ category, several parts of Delhi, including Aya Nagar, CRRI Mathura Road, IGI Airport (T3) and Lodhi Road, reported a moderate air quality after weeks of ‘severe’ or ‘very poor’ air, as per CPCB data.
Areas where AQI was moderate in Delhi:
- Aya Nagar – 138
- CRRI Mathura Road – 162
- IGI Airport (T3) – 123
- IIT Delhi – 156
- Mandir Marg – 166
- Sri Aurobindo Marg – 162
Air quality improved sharply compared to Wednesday, when the AQI was over 300. Despite this improvement, a thin layer of smog persists in parts of the city, and overall air quality remains poor. According to CPCB categorisation, 0-50 is ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
This came after the Delhi government revoked stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Wednesday as the air quality in the capital improved. The decision to revoke GRAP-4 has been taken by the Sub-Committee after reviewing the situation.
“AQI of Delhi has shown significant improuement since yesterday night owing to high winds and favarouble meteorological conditions and has been recorded as 271 (“poor” category) on 24. 12.2025. Air quality forecast provided by IMD/IlTM suggests increase in AQI of Delhi due to slower winds in coming days,” the official statement reads.
However, precautions under GRAP stage-I, II and III will remain in place. “Actions under Stage-1, II & III of the extant GRAP shall, however, remain invoked and be implemented as per the modified GRAP dated 21.11.2025,” the statement added.
Although air quality has improved, a fog warning remains in effect for Delhi and surrounding areas on Thursday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a very strong possibility of dense to very dense fog on Thursday morning for Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu region, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
As Delhi revoked GRAP-IV curbs, the Delhi government has allowed entry of non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI emission standards from Thursday, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told CNN News18. He also said there will be no relaxation on the “No PUC certificate, No Fuel” for anyone plying vehicles in Delhi.
