Archive · 4 Jan 2026
Delhi's 2025 Air Pollution: 65% from Outside
A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that in 2025, 65% of Delhi's air pollution came from outside the city, mainly from other districts in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Local sources, like cars and factories, were responsible for the remaining 35%.
The report also showed that pollution from burning crop waste (stubble burning) was much lower in 2025 compared to 2024.
The worst pollution in Delhi came from places like Bahadurgarh and Dharuhera.
Even though the air was a bit better in 2025, there were still no days with 'good' air quality.
The report says that to fix Delhi's pollution problem, everyone in the surrounding areas needs to work together.
On Saturday, Delhi's air quality was 'Poor' with an AQI of 276, while Noida and Gurgaon had AQIs of 242 and 244, respectively.
The air quality is expected to worsen in the coming days.
65% of Delhi's air pollution in 2025 originated from outside the city, mainly from other NCR districts.
Local sources, including vehicular emissions, accounted for the remaining 35% of pollution.
Stubble burning's contribution to PM2.5 pollution decreased from 15.5% in 2024 to 4.9% in 2025.
Bahadurgarh and Dharuhera were the largest contributors to Delhi's PM2.5 and PM10 pollution, respectively.
Delhi's annual average PM2.5 concentration declined by 8.6% in 2025 compared to 2024.
- Who
- Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
- What
- Report on Delhi's air pollution sources in 2025
- When
- 2025 winter season, with data from 2024 for comparison
- Where
- Delhi and surrounding NCR districts
- Why
- To understand the sources and contributors to Delhi's air pollution
- Transboundary Pollution Contribution
- 65%
- Local Pollution Contribution
- 35%
- Vehicular Emissions Contribution
- Nearly 50% of local PM2.5
- Stubble Burning Contribution (2025)
- 4.9% (Oct 15 - Nov 30)
- Stubble Burning Contribution (2024)
- 15.5% (Oct 15 - Nov 30)
- Highest PM2.5 Contributor (NCR)
- Bahadurgarh (173 µg/m³)
- Highest PM10 Contributor (NCR)
- Dharuhera (278 µg/m³)
- Annual Average PM2.5 (2025)
- 96 µg/m³
- Annual Average PM10 (2025)
- 197 µg/m³
- Annual Average AQI (2025)
- 201
- Delhi AQI (Saturday)
- 276
- Noida AQI (Saturday)
- 242
- Gurgaon AQI (Saturday)
- 244
Sources
What Made Delhi’s Air Toxic This Winter? Report Reveals Real Reasons
65 pc of Delhi’s air pollution in 2025 originated from outside city: CSE
Air Pollution In Rajahmundry Higher Than In New Delhi
65% Of Delhi's Air Pollution In 2025 Came From Nearby Areas: Study
AQI still ‘poor’; 65% pollutants came from outside city in 2025: CREA report
Why Delhi’s Pollution Is Refusing to Clear: IMD Warns of Dip in Air Quality; Check Area-Wise AQI
'Delhi's location makes it vulnerable': Study says 65% of city's air pollution in 2025 came from outside
