Dehi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flags off 36 vehicles under ‘Vayu Rakshak’ initiative

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has opened six new continuous air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, stating that air pollution is a "year-round challenge" and not just seasonal. She also launched the 'Vayu Rakshak' initiative, involving vehicles with teams to enforce pollution norms.

Six months after its India debut, the Vietnamese automaker has overtaken established players such as Hyundai Motor, BMW, Kia, and Chinese EV major BYD.

Delhi’s average winter air quality graph over the past 10 years is not linear. But when all factors are taken into account, one thing is unmistakably clear.

Nitrogen dioxide, benzene and other pollutants breached safe limits at most Delhi stations in January, highlighting persistent air quality concerns.

AQI jumped over 60 points in 24 hours, with pollution expected to ease as stronger surface winds set in later this week.

Capital records AQI of 339 after 60-point jump in 24 hours; meteorologists forecast relief as western disturbance brings stronger winds

Delhi’s air in January was badly polluted, with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and benzene often above safe limits at many monitoring stations. These high levels can harm lungs and increase health risks for people breathing the city’s air.

Delhi’s air in January was badly polluted, with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and benzene often above safe limits at many monitoring stations. These high levels can harm lungs and increase health risks for people breathing the city’s air.

Delhi’s air in January was badly polluted, with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and benzene often above safe limits at many monitoring stations. These high levels can harm lungs and increase health risks for people breathing the city’s air.

Delhi’s air in January was badly polluted, with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and benzene often above safe limits at many monitoring stations. These high levels can harm lungs and increase health risks for people breathing the city’s air.

In January in Delhi, air pollution was very bad not just because of fine dust but also due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and other toxic gases. A study of official air quality data found that NO₂ stayed above safe limits for over 25 days at most monitoring stations, and benzene, a cancer-linked gas, was above the World Health Organization’s recommended level on many days.

In comparison, during the same period last year, benzene levels breached the WHO guidelines on 28 days but did not exceed the Indian standard on any day.

Environmentalists have raised concerns over the Centre’s decision to reduce the budget allocation for pollution control at a time when air quality in many cities remains poor to very poor. They said the funding is inadequate to address the growing public health crisis caused by pollution.

Experts said the Union Budget’s allocation for pollution control falls short at a time when several cities, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, are struggling with ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality.

The decision triggered sharp criticism from environmental experts. They said the absence of a targeted approach for regions facing the worst pollution was a major gap.

Environmentalists see the Budget as a missed opportunity to tackle the health emergency.

The 2026-27 Budget estimate has made drastic cuts to the funding of pollution control boards, CAQM, and NCAP.

Budget 2026 cuts pollution control allocation: The timing of the cut is troubling. Delhi-NCR and neighbouring regions continue to record hazardous air quality levels, leading to school closures, health advisories, and increased respiratory illnesses.

With Ranji players suffering under a cloud of pollution, coaches say the real damage is being done in the maidans, where their wards are struggling with breathlessness and uneasiness