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Delhi Records Cleanest September Air in 5 Years; Will It Last?
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News18•01-10-2026, 07:00
Delhi Records Cleanest September Air in 5 Years; Will It Last?
- •Delhi's average September AQI dropped to 102 in 2026, marking its cleanest September air in five years, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- •The city recorded 194 days with a daily average AQI below 200 ('Moderate') during January-September 2026, the highest in five years.
- •Delhi also saw its lowest number of 'Poor to Severe+' air quality days (79) during January-September 2026 in the last five years.
- •The improvement coincides with a decline in farm-fire incidents in Punjab and Haryana, with only 54 combined incidents between September 15-29, 2026.
- •Experts caution that the improvement might be due to monsoon effects, expecting AQI levels to rise as October begins and winter approaches.
Key Questions Answered
Delhi recorded a monthly average Air Quality Index of 102 in September 2026, marking its cleanest September air in five years according to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Punjab and Haryana recorded a combined total of 54 farm-fire incidents between September 15 and 29, 2026, showing a decline compared to previous years such as 289 incidents in 2023 and 102 incidents in 2025.
Experts note that the recent air quality improvement was largely a function of the monsoon, and pollutant levels are expected to rise starting in October as winter sets in and trapped pollutants begin to accumulate.
