Delhi breaths good quality air in April

Average AQI for Delhi during this period also remained in Moderate AQI category below 200

As a result of favourable meteorological conditions Delhi recorded maximum number of ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality days in April, 2024 as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years starting from 2018.

As per the Ministry of Environment, the number of days with ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality in Delhi during April, 2024 were 23 as against 17 in 2023; 0 in 2022; 18 in 2021; 30 in 2020; 12 in 2019; and 08 in 2018.

The average AQI for Delhi during this period also remained in Moderate AQI category below 200.

During April, 2024 Delhi experienced its second lowest monthly average Air Quality Index (AQI) as compared to the corresponding month of April for the last 06-year period from 2018.

As per data, Month-wise daily average AQI in Delhi for April was 182 in 2024, 180 in 2023, 255 in 2022, 202 in 2021, 110 in 2020, 211 in 2019, and 222 in 2018.

Considering the daily average PM2.5 and PM10 concentration levels, the 30 days period of April in 2024 also witnessed significant reduction in daily average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations as compared to the corresponding period in the previous years.

The World Air Quality Report 2023 by Swiss organisation IQAir, India has emerged as the world’s third most polluted country, while Delhi has been identified as the capital city with the poorest air quality

India ranked third worst out of 134 countries in terms of average annual PM2.5 concentration, following Bangladesh and Pakistan. In 2022, India was ranked eighth, with a slightly lower PM2.5 concentration.

Delhi’s PM2.5 levels also worsened, maintaining its status as the most polluted capital city in the world for the fourth consecutive year. Shockingly, only 9% of over 7,800 cities assessed globally met the WHO’s standard, which stipulates that average annual levels of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

The report highlights the alarming extent of air pollution in India, with an estimated 1.36 billion people experiencing PM2.5 concentrations exceeding the WHO recommended annual guideline level.

Additionally, 96% of the Indian population is exposed to PM2.5 levels more than seven times the WHO guideline.