Is the air quality good in Delhi, India?
As of June 16, 2026, at 9:20 AM (local time, GMT+5:30), air quality in Delhi, India, has reached unhealthy levels, with PM2.5 and PM10 identified as the dominant pollutants. The Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 170, driven by dust and ongoing heatwave conditions.
While the conditions today remain 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 June 16, 2026, at 9:20 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Delhi, India, as of June 16, 2026, at 9:20 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Delhi, India?
The monsoon season from July through September brings the cleanest air of the year to Delhi, with frequent precipitation keeping PM2.5 consistently in the satisfactory range.
A delayed onset of monsoon rains is a key driver of prolonged dust pollution in June, as the first spell of rainfall normally dampens and cleanses the air (1).
Until those rains arrive, conditions are likely to remain poor. Short-term relief depends on isolated wind shifts or rainfall events in the coming days.
Hourly air quality forecast for Delhi, India, as of June 16, 2026, at 9:20 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Delhi, India?
Every year in April, May, and June, intense dust loading occurs over Delhi as hot weather and strong winds lift dust from across northwest India. The most intense dust storms typically occur just before the monsoon season, and a delayed monsoon compounds these conditions by allowing dust to remain suspended for longer without being washed away by rainfall (2).
For the months of April through June, poor air quality in Delhi is driven by exceptionally prolonged dry spells combined with high-speed winds that cause regional transport of fine dust and particulate matter from adjoining areas and across borders (3).
Vehicle emissions, construction dust, and industrial activity add a persistent base layer of PM2.5 to the atmosphere year-round, compounding the seasonal dust burden.
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.
