India: air pollution news and guides
What is happening to the air in India, explained with live readings from official monitors. See India's live AQI →
Data stories · 19 Oct87 cities had dirtier air than Delhi this October. Most were in Indonesia and MalaysiaGood Air ranked 467 cities in 7 Asian countries by October 2026 PM2.5 from government monitors. The 25 most polluted are all in Indonesia; Delhi is 88th.- Data storiesAfter the monsoon, Maharashtra's air got worse four times as fast as Delhi'sWe compared 219 Indian cities before and after the 2026 monsoon left. Maharashtra's median AQI doubled, all 34 cities worse; Delhi NCR's rose 25%.
- Data storiesWhat time of day is Delhi's air cleanest? Our hourly data says early afternoonDelhi NCR's air was cleanest from noon to 5 pm and dirtiest late at night in our hourly data for 10 to 17 October 2026. When to walk, run and open windows.
- GuidesPollution cough and sore throat: why smog makes you cough, what helps, and when to see a doctorA pollution cough comes from fine particles irritating your airways. How to tell it from a cold, what actually helps, and the warning signs that need a doctor.
- SeasonalDiwali 2026 and air pollution: firecracker rules and how to protect your familyDiwali is on 8 November 2026. Are firecrackers allowed in Delhi NCR? The latest Supreme Court hearings, green crackers, and how to protect your family.
- GuidesHow to protect children from air pollution: a parent's guide for smog and haze daysHow to protect children from air pollution on smog and haze days: when to keep them in, safe AQI levels for play, clean air at home, masks and school rules.
- ExplainersEl Niño 2026 could be the strongest on record: what it means for this winter's weatherEl Nino is heading for a strong to very strong peak this winter 2026-27, possibly the strongest since 1950. What it means for rain, heat and haze worldwide.
- NewsNortheast monsoon 2026 arrives in Tamil Nadu: onset, rain forecast and what to expect in ChennaiThe northeast monsoon 2026 is setting in over Tamil Nadu from 15 October. IMD expects normal October to December rain. Forecast, warnings and Chennai outlook.
- NewsRain and hail over Delhi NCR: will the storm clean the air, and for how long?Rain and hail on 14 and 15 October 2026 should briefly reduce Delhi pollution, but IMD expects dry weather from 16 October, and the smog usually returns.
- ExplainersPM2.5 vs PM10: what's the difference, and which one should you worry about?PM10 is coarse dust up to 10 micrometres; PM2.5 is fine smoke and soot up to 2.5. PM2.5 vs PM10 explained, with safe levels and today's examples.
- GuidesWhat size air purifier do you need? CADR and room size, explained for smog seasonMatch an air purifier's CADR to your room: at least two-thirds of the floor area in sq ft, or equal to it for heavy smoke. Worked examples for Indian homes.
- GuidesN95 vs KN95 vs FFP2: which mask actually protects you from smog and haze?N95, KN95 and FFP2 masks all filter at least 94 to 95% of fine particles. For pollution, fit and a genuine label matter far more than which one you buy.
- ExplainersGRAP explained: what each stage means for Delhi NCR in winter 2026What Delhi NCR's Graded Response Action Plan does at each stage, from dust control at Stage 1 to truck bans at Stage 4, and what changed in 2026.
- ExplainersStubble burning explained: why farmers burn paddy straw and how it reaches DelhiWhy farmers in Punjab and Haryana burn paddy straw each autumn, how much it adds to Delhi's smog, the alternatives, and 2026 farm fire data.
- ExplainersUS AQI vs India's AQI: why the same air gets two different numbersThe US AQI is stricter in cleaner air; India's NAQI climbs faster in heavy smog. Why the same air gets two numbers, with a conversion table.
- SeasonalWhy Delhi's air turns toxic every winter, and what is being done in 2026Cold, still air traps vehicle exhaust, dust and smoke over North India every winter. The causes, 2026 farm fire data and Delhi's action plan.
