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Delhi air quality worsens as AQI enters severe category
Air pollution levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have deteriorated sharply, with several monitoring stations recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the 'severe' category. On November 3 and 4, 2026, areas such as Jahangirpuri, Punjabi Bagh, and IIT Delhi reported AQI readings exceeding 400, while some stations reached as high as 554.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to mitigate the crisis. Measures include increased road cleaning, water sprinkling, and stricter monitoring of industries, construction, and waste burning. To encourage public transport use, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has introduced 20 additional Namo Bharat train services on the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
Pollution levels are being driven by a combination of stubble burning in neighboring states, vehicular emissions, and unfavorable weather conditions. Stubble burning was reported to contribute between 16.2% and 20.2% of the city's pollution. Additionally, the Supreme Court has expressed concern over reports of both licensed and unlicensed firecrackers being sold in markets despite existing restrictions.
Entities
Central Pollution Control Board · Commission for Air Quality Management · Delhi · Delhi Metro Rail Corporation · Delhi-NCR · Graded Response Action Plan · India Meteorological Department · Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology · Manjinder Singh Sirsa · Mumbai · National Capital Region · National Capital Region Transport Corporation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] Fines exceeding Rs 68 lakh were imposed on the first day of anti-pollution curbs. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · www.businesstoday.in · www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 7 SOURCES] Authorities issued 566 challans for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) violations on November 1. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 6 SOURCES] Non-BS6 vehicles are banned from entering Delhi. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · www.businesstoday.in · www.newsmobile.in
- [● 10 SOURCES] Akshardham Temple and ITO recorded an AQI of 349. hindi.newsbytesapp.com · udaipurkiran.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] Enforcement teams checked 14,930 vehicles on November 1. www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 6 SOURCES] Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 420. www.businesstoday.in · bhaskarlive.in
- [● 6 SOURCES] Authorities inspected 300 construction sites on November 1. www.prensa-latina.cu
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached the ‘severe’ category with readings as high as 428.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Stubble burning accounts for 15.3% of Delhi's pollution.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Gurugram has introduced a 50% work-from-home arrangement.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Transport emissions account for 15.8% of Delhi's pollution.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 450 or higher. bilkulonline.com · www.bhaskarhindi.com · bhaskarlive.in