During the period 2018-2025, Delhi witnessed its lowest average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration levels in the current year, barring COVID year 2020 – EQ
In Short : An assessment of air quality data from 2018 to 2025 shows that Delhi has recorded its lowest average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in the current year, excluding the exceptional COVID year of 2020. The improvement reflects sustained policy action, tighter enforcement, cleaner technologies, and structural emission control measures rather than temporary or crisis-driven reductions.
In Detail : The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), since its inception in 2021, through a series of Directions/ Advisories and Orders, has initiated various policy measures and field actions towards abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
During the period 2018–2025, Delhi recorded its lowest ever average concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the year 2025, with annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration at 198 µg/m³ and 97 µg/m³ respectively, barring the COVID-affected year 2020.
Comparative PM10 and PM2.5 Concentrations
Comparative daily average Particulate Matter emission concentration (PM10 and PM2.5) values (till 31st December 2025) in Delhi read as under:
| Year | Daily avg. PM10 (µgm/m3) | Daily avg. PM2.5 (µgm/m3) |
| 2018 | 242 | 114 |
| 2019 | 218 | 109 |
| 2020* | 181 | 95 |
| 2021 | 211 | 105 |
| 2022 | 211 | 98 |
| 2023 | 206 | 100 |
| 2024 | 212 | 105 |
| 2025 | 198 | 97 |
* Covid Year
The year 2025 has thus witnessed the lowest ever average values for PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations, barring the Covid affected year 2020.
With persistent field level efforts and targeted policy initiatives for quantified results in the short/ medium/ long term, it is expected that air quality scenario over Delhi will see further gradual but marked improvement, year on year.
