Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Delhi Reports Decade-High Clean Air Days Amid Pollution Measures
Delhi reported 179 clean-air days from January 1 to September 15 this year.
Officials said this was the highest number in a decade.
In 2016, Delhi had recorded 94 clean-air days during the comparable period.
Last year, it recorded 172.
The environment minister said efforts to control dust, waste, and vehicle pollution helped improve the air.
On September 15, Delhi’s AQI was 98, which is called satisfactory.
Workers used machines to sweep roads and collected nearly 170 tonnes of dust.
Officials also removed construction waste and garbage and checked vehicles for pollution violations.
The government said it would continue these measures over the long term.
Delhi recorded 179 clean air days between January 1 and September 15 this year, according to Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The figure rose from 94 clean air days in 2016 and exceeded the 172 days recorded during the same period last year.
Delhi’s AQI was 98 on September 15, placing it in the satisfactory category.
Authorities said 81 mechanised road sweepers collected nearly 170 tonnes of road dust over the previous 24 hours.
The government also reported removing construction waste and garbage, issuing 4,976 vehicle-pollution challans, and processing 19,212 tonnes of legacy waste.
- Who
- Delhi’s environment department and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
- What
- Delhi reported 179 clean air days so far this year, which officials described as the highest in a decade.
- When
- Between January 1 and September 15 this year; the latest AQI reading was reported on September 15.
- Where
- Delhi, including the Bhalswa, Ghazipur, and Okhla landfill sites.
- Why
- Officials attributed the reported improvement to measures targeting dust, waste, and vehicular pollution.
- Clean air days this year
- 179 between January 1 and September 15
- Clean air days in 2016
- 94 during the corresponding period
- Clean air days last year
- 172 during the corresponding period
- September 15 AQI
- 98, in the satisfactory category
- Road dust collected
- Nearly 170 tonnes in the previous 24 hours
- Vehicle-pollution challans
- 4,976 issued in the previous 24 hours
- Legacy waste processed
- Around 19,212 tonnes through biomining