Delhi Pollution News: Air Turns Hazardous Again As AQI Hits 375

Delhi's air pollution crisis persists on Dec. 3, 2025, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) registering at a hazardous 375 at 8:00 a.m.

The Delhi air pollution was driven by elevated PM2.5 levels of 262 µg/m³ and PM10 at 356 µg/m³, according to AQI.in.

This 'hazardous' category signals emergency conditions.

Major pollutants include particulate matter from vehicles, industry, and crop burning, with nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide exacerbating the smog.

#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals from the Akshardham area as a layer of toxic smog blankets the city. AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 405, categorised as 'Severe', as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/wpJjgofpBH

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2025

The Delhi High Court will hear a plea seeking urgent steps to control hazardous air pollution levels in the national capital today. While hearing the petition, Justice Sachin Datta said the prayers are in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and should be heard by the division bench having the PIL roster.

The plea will be listed for hearing on Wednesday before a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. The plea said the ambient air quality in Delhi has deteriorated drastically over the past several years, with AQI frequently entering the 'very poor', 'severe' and 'hazardous' categories, especially during winter.

The increased pollution has resulted in persistent and serious health issues among residents, including children, senior citizens and persons with pre-existing ailments, it said.

The petition has been filed by Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association, which has urged the court to order urgent, effective and scientific measures, both immediate and long-term, to control the city's air pollution.

The plea said the authorities, which remained 'virtually inactive' as the air quality steadily deteriorated, chose to issue 'Stage III - steps to be taken' only after the AQI had crossed its critical level. The government confined itself to merely prescribing measures on paper without ensuring their actual implementation, it alleged.

The petition has arrayed the Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Central Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Police as the respondent parties.

- with inputs from PTI