Why vast parts of Delhi still lack reliable pollution data - and how ‘data shadow’ leaves millions in city uncounted

Even though Delhi has more continuous air-quality monitoring stations than any other Indian city, much of the capital remains unmonitored. A fresh analysis shows that large parts fall into a “data shadow,” meaning pollution exposure for millions of residents remains unrecorded.

Because monitoring stations are unevenly located — largely in central or already covered areas — many outer and peripheral zones lack proper coverage. As a result, official data underestimates how badly air pollution affects those neighbourhoods.

The article argues that this data gap undermines efforts to understand the true extent of pollution, design effective policies, or protect public health. Without reliable coverage, millions of people in under-monitored zones remain invisible in pollution statistics.

In other words: Delhi may have official numbers for air quality, but for many residents those numbers don’t reflect reality — leaving much of the city’s pollution problem hidden.

Click on the link to read this article: Why vast parts of Delhi still lack reliable pollution data - and how ‘data shadow’ leaves millions in city uncounted