After a short-lived improvement, Delhi-NCR’s air quality worsened again on Monday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) edged back toward the “very poor” category. 

This deterioration came barely a day after strong winds had briefly lifted pollution levels from “very poor” to “poor” for the first time in over two weeks.

By 7 a.m., the AQI had climbed past 300, remaining in the “poor” category, while a dense mix of fog and smoke shrouded the national capital, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed.

According to CPCB readings, Anand Vihar and ITO both registered an AQI of 325, pushing them firmly into the “very poor” range. In contrast, areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path reported comparatively better levels at 267, though still classified as “poor.”

As per CPCB norms, AQI levels are graded as follows: 0–50 ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.

Delhi saw a brief respite on Sunday when the AQI dipped to 279 — the second-lowest level recorded in November, after the reading of 202 on November 5, according to CPCB’s Sameer app. However, despite this temporary relief, 22 out of 39 monitoring stations continued to record air quality in the “very poor” category.

From November 24 to 29, the capital’s average AQI hovered between 327 and 382. It dropped to 305 on Saturday and further to 279 on Sunday morning before rising again on Monday.

With the Parliament’s Winter Session beginning Monday, pollution is expected to be a central topic of debate. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had already called for a detailed discussion, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on what he termed a “health emergency.”

Rahul Gandhi met with a group of women at his residence to discuss the worsening air quality. Sharing a video of their conversation on X, he urged the Prime Minister to act swiftly.

“Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared, and angry. Modi ji, India's children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” he posted.