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Delhi's air ends Saturday at AQI 159, 'moderate' but well up on Friday
The Central Pollution Control Board's 4 pm average was close to double Friday's reading. It stays below the band at which the first stage of GRAP curbs applies.
Key points
- Delhi's 24-hour average AQI was 159 at 4 pm on Saturday.
- The same reading on Friday was 90, 'satisfactory'.
- GRAP Stage I applies when the AQI enters the 201-300 'poor' band.
Delhi’s air quality closed Saturday in the “moderate” category, with the 24-hour average Air Quality Index at 159 at 4 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. At the same time on Friday, after rain had washed the city’s air, the reading was 90, in the “satisfactory” band.
The rise was expected. Rain on Friday cleared the air only briefly, and readings climbed again from Saturday morning, with Anand Vihar among the worst spots. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has forecast “poor” air from Monday, 19 October, with no rain in sight.
On the CPCB scale, 101 to 200 is “moderate” and 201 to 300 is “poor”. Under the Commission for Air Quality Management’s revised 2026 schedule, Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) applies once the AQI reaches the “poor” band. Saturday’s average was below that mark, and the commission did not announce any change to GRAP measures on Saturday.
Warm days, clear skies
The city also grew slightly warmer. Safdarjung, the city’s reference station, recorded a maximum of 32.6 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees below normal and 0.8 degrees up on Friday. The minimum was 20 degrees, 0.4 degrees above normal. Palam touched 29.5 degrees, while Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded minimums of 19.3 and 19.1 degrees.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast a maximum of 31 to 33 degrees and a minimum of 19 to 21 degrees for Sunday. “Mostly clear skies are expected to persist for the next few days,” an IMD official said.