Delhi and Gurgaon log their cleanest October air in years

Delhi’s average AQI for October was 166, the capital’s lowest reading for the month in eight years, the Union Environment Ministry said. It was down from 223 in October 2025 and 234 in October 2024.

Gurgaon averaged 162 in October, compared with 190 last year and 165 in 2024. The city had six poor-air days, against 15 in October 2025, and none in the very poor or severe categories. Its best stretch came between October 11 and 20, when the average AQI was about 135; it later rose to 240 on October 29 before falling to 69 and 83 over the final two days of the month.

Manoj Kumar of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air said excess rainfall likely helped wash pollutants from the air, while Diwali’s shift to November meant October did not see firecracker emissions. The reading follows Gurgaon’s September AQI spike.

Gurgaon’s historical comparison carries one caveat: its monitoring network grew from one station in 2016 to four by 2019. Road dust from broken roads, unpaved stretches and construction debris remains a concern in the city.