Yugcharan News / 01-10-2026
New Delhi: Air quality in the national capital deteriorated again on Thursday, with Delhi recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 129, pushing the city back into the moderate category after several days of comparatively better air quality. The deterioration comes as the region enters the period when pollution levels traditionally begin to rise, with crop-residue burning in neighbouring agricultural states emerging as an important concern.
According to data cited by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Delhi recorded its lowest average AQI for the month of September in 2026 when compared with the corresponding September periods from 2022 to 2026. Despite the relatively lower monthly average, the latest deterioration indicates that air quality conditions are once again becoming a concern as October begins.
The AQI stood at 129 on Thursday morning, according to the information reported by Namaste Telangana. Under the Central Pollution Control Board's classification, an AQI between 101 and 200 is categorised as moderate. The category indicates that air pollution is present at a level that can affect air quality conditions in the city, particularly as pollution sources and weather conditions change.
Delhi AQI Falls After Five Days of Satisfactory Air
CPCB data showed that Delhi's air quality had remained in the satisfactory category for five consecutive days before deteriorating again.
The AQI scale used by the CPCB divides air quality into six categories. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as good, while readings from 51 to 100 are considered satisfactory. The range between 101 and 200 falls under the moderate category. AQI levels from 201 to 300 are classified as poor, 301 to 400 as very poor and 401 to 500 as severe.
With the AQI at 129, Delhi is currently in the moderate category. The change comes after the city experienced a period of comparatively cleaner air during the final days of September.
Air quality in Delhi is influenced by several factors, including local emissions from vehicles, road and construction dust, industrial activity, weather conditions and pollution transported from neighbouring regions. During the post-monsoon and winter months, atmospheric conditions can also make it more difficult for pollutants to disperse.
Crop Burning Cases Reported Across States
The latest concern comes against the backdrop of increasing crop-residue burning incidents in parts of northern India.
According to data attributed to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, crop-residue burning incidents were recorded at 19 locations across four states in the latest period cited in the report. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh accounted for seven incidents each, while four were reported from Madhya Pradesh and one from Haryana.
A broader set of data for the period between September 15 and September 30 showed that authorities detected 114 incidents of crop-residue burning across six states.
Punjab recorded the highest number, with 59 incidents. Uttar Pradesh accounted for 32, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 17. Haryana recorded three incidents, Rajasthan two and Delhi one.
The figures have renewed attention on the contribution of stubble burning to air pollution in and around Delhi during the period when farmers in parts of northern India prepare agricultural fields for the next crop.
Stubble Burning and Delhi's Pollution
Crop-residue burning has long been identified as one of the seasonal factors that can contribute to deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region. Farmers in states such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh burn leftover crop residue in some areas to quickly clear fields between agricultural cycles.
The smoke generated by these fires can contribute to particulate pollution, while prevailing winds can transport pollutants towards the Delhi-NCR region under suitable atmospheric conditions.
However, Delhi's air pollution is not caused by a single source. Local emissions and weather conditions also play a significant role in determining the city's daily AQI. The contribution of stubble burning can vary substantially from day to day depending on the number and location of fires, wind direction, atmospheric mixing and other factors.
Therefore, the detection of crop-burning incidents does not by itself establish that they were solely responsible for the AQI recorded in Delhi on a particular day.
September Records Lowest Five-Year Average
The CAQM data cited in the report provides another significant indication of Delhi's air quality trends. According to the commission, September 2026 recorded the lowest monthly average AQI for the month when compared with the corresponding September periods from 2022 through 2026.
This means that although Delhi's air quality has deteriorated again at the beginning of October, the overall average for September was comparatively lower than the September averages recorded during the previous four years in the five-year period under consideration.
The distinction between a monthly average and a daily AQI reading is important. A lower monthly average does not mean that the city experienced consistently good air throughout the month. Daily pollution levels can fluctuate depending on weather and emission conditions.
The latest AQI reading of 129 therefore represents the air quality situation at the time of measurement rather than the overall air quality trend for the entire year.
Visuals Show Hazy Conditions in Delhi
Visuals from different parts of the national capital also drew attention to the changing air conditions.
The report carried visuals from the Akshardham and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) areas of Delhi. The footage was shared by news agency ANI along with information from the Commission for Air Quality Management regarding the city's September AQI.
Such visual observations can provide an indication of atmospheric conditions, although AQI measurements and monitoring-station data remain the formal basis for assessing air quality.
As October progresses, pollution levels in Delhi and neighbouring areas will continue to depend on a combination of factors, including emissions within the capital, crop-residue burning in surrounding states, wind movement, temperature and atmospheric conditions.
Northern India Enters Critical Pollution Period
The beginning of October is significant for Delhi's annual air-quality cycle. The post-monsoon period often brings changes in wind patterns and atmospheric conditions that can affect the dispersion of pollutants.
At the same time, agricultural activity in neighbouring states can lead to an increase in crop-residue burning. The latest figures showing 114 incidents between September 15 and September 30 indicate that such fires have already been detected across several states.
Punjab accounted for more than half of the incidents recorded during that period, with 59 cases, while Uttar Pradesh recorded 32. Madhya Pradesh accounted for 17 cases. Smaller numbers were reported from Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi.
The figures are being closely monitored because the number and geographical distribution of fires can influence the amount of smoke entering the Delhi-NCR region, depending on prevailing weather conditions.
Authorities Monitoring Pollution Levels
Air-quality agencies regularly monitor AQI readings and crop-burning incidents during this period. The CAQM, CPCB and other agencies use monitoring stations and satellite-based information to track pollution levels and identify sources contributing to deteriorating air quality.
The crop-burning data cited in the report comes from agricultural and monitoring agencies and provides an indication of the scale of residue-burning incidents detected during the specified period.
The authorities' focus generally increases during the post-monsoon period because a combination of local emissions, regional pollution and unfavourable atmospheric conditions can lead to a rapid increase in AQI.
For Delhi residents, the change from satisfactory to moderate air quality is an indication that pollution levels require continued monitoring. However, the AQI can change significantly over a short period depending on weather and emission patterns.
What the AQI 129 Reading Means
Under the CPCB's classification, Delhi's AQI of 129 falls within the moderate range of 101 to 200.
The AQI is designed to communicate the overall status of air pollution through a numerical value and corresponding category. The higher the number, the greater the level of pollution.
A reading of 129 is considerably below the poor, very poor and severe categories, but it nevertheless represents a deterioration from the satisfactory range recorded during the preceding five days.
The latest reading therefore marks a change in the city's immediate air-quality conditions rather than evidence of the extreme pollution episodes that Delhi has experienced during some previous winter periods.
Focus Turns to October Pollution
With October now underway, Delhi's air-quality situation is expected to remain closely watched. The detection of crop-residue burning incidents in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi has placed renewed focus on one of the seasonal sources associated with pollution in northern India.
At the same time, the September data provides a comparatively positive longer-term indicator for the month, with CAQM reporting that September 2026 had the lowest average AQI among the corresponding September periods from 2022 to 2026.
The contrasting developments underline the importance of distinguishing between short-term AQI readings and longer-term averages. Delhi's air quality can change rapidly as weather patterns, local emissions and regional pollution sources interact.
For now, the capital's AQI stands at 129, placing it in the moderate category after five consecutive days in the satisfactory range. With crop-residue burning incidents being recorded across neighbouring states and the post-monsoon season progressing, monitoring agencies are expected to continue tracking both local air pollution and regional sources that could influence Delhi's air quality in the weeks ahead.
