Delhi Pollution: Why India Must Look Beyond AQI And Focus On PM2.5, PM10

We wake up to the AQI every morning, but does that single number tell us what we are actually breathing? The Air Quality Index combines multiple pollutants into one score, while PM2.5 and PM10 measure the particulate matter that directly affects our respiratory health. This explainer breaks down the difference, why fine particles are particularly dangerous, and why India needs to put actual pollutant concentrations at the centre of its air pollution monitoring. The AQI remains an important public warning system, but the real question is: how much pollution are we breathing every day?