Delhi’s AQI drops to 85, lowest in 3 years

New Delhi: Delhi recorded its cleanest air for any day between January 1 and March 15 in the last three years on Saturday, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The 24-hour average AQI stood at 85 at 4 pm on Saturday, placing it in the ‘Satisfactory’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the first ‘Satisfactory’ air quality day of 2025. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) also shared on its X account, stating, “Today, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 85, the lowest in the last three years for the period from 1st January to 15th March. Today’s AQI is also the first day of the current year with a ‘Satisfactory’ AQI (AQI 51-100).”

Meanwhile, the CAQM also revoked actions under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in Delhi and surrounding National Capital Region (NCR). It further mentioned that Delhi has witnessed a ‘Satisfactory’ AQI in March for the first time in five years, since 2020. The maximum temperature in Delhi on Saturday was 33 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, according to the IMD. The minimum temperature was 18.7 degrees Celsius, while humidity levels fluctuated between 62 per cent and 50 per cent. On Friday, Delhi experienced its hottest day of the year so far, with the mercury reaching 36.2 degrees Celsius, 7.3 degrees Celsius above normal, the IMD stated. The weather department has predicted generally cloudy skies with light rain or drizzle on Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 32 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively.