Following Diwali, air quality in several cities across northern India plummeted to hazardous levels, with AQI readings exceeding 400 in some areas. Despite measures such as anti-smog guns and construction restrictions in cities like Delhi, pollution levels remain critical, fuelled by stubble burning and firecrackers, and intensified by the onset of winter. The question remains: How is the AQI calculated, and what factors contribute to its sharp decline, especially during winter?
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In a move critics are calling a calculated deflection, the Union government has doubled down on its stance that World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines are merely "guidance documents" and not enforceable rules.
The World Bank has approved a financial assistance package of USD 305 million for the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD), a flagship initiative aimed at transforming Haryana into a pollution-free state by 2030.
The Ministry clarified that it has notified National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 12 pollutants in 2009 to protect public health and the environment, and these standards are tailored to India's specific conditions.
Tandoori dishes are a staple of Delhi's dining and evening snack culture, especially across neighbourhood markets and street-side stalls.
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Monday November 10, 2025Till some years back, Delhiites would ask angry questions to those in power about the capitals annual tryst with toxic air. This has changed. Those in the driving seat dont see the need to answer now.
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Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
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