Is the air quality good in Delhi, India?
As of May 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM (local time, GMT+5:30), air quality in Delhi, India, has reached hazardous levels, with PM10 identified as the dominant pollutant. The Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 400, driven by a severe dust storm and ongoing extreme heatwave conditions.
While the conditions today remain extremely poor, long-term data highlights a persistent problem. In 2025, Delhi recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 99.6 µg/m³, retaining its status as the 4th most polluted city in the world.
India's national average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 48.9 µg/m³, equivalent to an AQI of 134, classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and 9.78 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³, placing India sixth globally.
For a complete, real-time view of current pollution levels, see Delhi’s air quality map.
Delhi, India, ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of May 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Delhi, India, as of May 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Delhi, India?
The IMD has issued a heat wave alert for Delhi-NCR with temperatures expected to remain elevated over the coming days, offering little atmospheric relief. Conditions are expected to improve only once the dust storm front passes and winds subside, typically within 24 to 48 hours of peak activity (1). More sustained relief will arrive with the monsoon season from June through September.
Hourly air quality forecast for Delhi, India, as of May 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Delhi, India?
Today's hazardous conditions are being driven by an intense pre-monsoon dust storm, with IMD recording wind gusts touching 98 km/h originating from a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan, northwest Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, carrying dust and sand from the Thar Desert toward the capital (2).
Parched soil from prolonged absence of rainfall and intense heat across northwest India have amplified dust loading, with the cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan expected to impact Delhi for the next three to four days.
Vehicle emissions, construction dust, and industrial activity compound the problem year-round, adding a persistent base layer of PM2.5 to the atmosphere (3).
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
