Delhi AQI: What is PM2.5 and the row over air pollution data post Deepavali?
Delhi's air quality reached severe levels following Deepavali, sparking a political controversy over missing PM2.5 data from monitoring stations. Opposition leaders have questioned the transparency of the data collection process during the peak pollution period.
Why it matters
The dispute underscores the critical intersection of public health, environmental policy, and political accountability in urban India.
Deepavali night (November 8, 2026) in Delhi saw air pollution levels in the national capital reach alarmingly high levels after firecrackers were burst across the city well past the Supreme Court-permitted hours on the festival. The national capital is under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with multiple restrictions in place. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhis-air-quality-slips-into-severe-category-morning-after-deepavali-aqi-at-404/article71681305.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-pollution-grap-3-restrictions-explained-due-to-severe-air-quality-index-aqi-what-is-allowed-and-what-is-not/article71668636.ece A row has now been sparked after senior Congress leader Ajay Maken flagged the non-availability of PM 2.5 readings at 25 of Delhi’s 39 air quality monitoring stations on the night of Deepavali.
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