Report · 06 November 2026

500 AQI at Punjabi Bagh, 24 hours to 4 PM, 06 November 2026, the worst monitor in Delhi today, Severe on CPCB's documented formula, and PM2.5 set that figure. 16.9 lakh people live within 4 km of it.

400.8

TODAY

Delhi's AQI calculated with CPCB's documented formula, the mean of 59 stations.

2.09 crore

NEAR POOR OR WORSE

Within 4 km of 59 Poor-or-worse monitors: 92.1 per cent of Delhi, every pollutant counted.

15.7x

THE WHO 24-HOUR LINE

Delhi's PM2.5 today, as measured, against the WHO 24-hour guideline.

The AQI figures here are calculated with the formula that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) publishes for its air quality index. CPCB's own documents set out that formula: CPCB's note on how the AQI is calculated; CPCB's AQI calculator.

The full report

The complete written report for this day, with every figure and the source it comes from.

Download the daily reportPDF, 4.1 MB

The day in brief

Delhi's AQI was 400.8, Severe, calculated with CPCB's documented formula as the mean of 59 stations' AQIs (CPCB's note "How is AQI calculated?" and its AQI Calculator; page 28 sets out the formula). As measured, 58 of the 58 monitors reading PM2.5 were above the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³. Above AQI 200 today: 59 stations, Punjabi Bagh 500, Jahangirpuri 500, Rohini 500, Mundka 500, and 55 more in the station table. Poor or worse air reached 2.09 crore people within 4 km of their monitor today, 92.1 per cent of Delhi.

The year so far, 1 January to 5 November: the cleaner days of 2026 have been the dirtiest for these dates since 2019, because three days in four read above 107.5 on the particle AQI, against 94.6 on the same dates of 2025. The middle day reads 156.8 against 146.3 on the same dates last year. On an average day, 28.4 per cent of Delhi's reporting monitors, about 12 of 44, sat above 200 on the particle AQI.

The findings

What the report says

Against yesterday: the one-day move

From 383 to 401. On the 59 stations that reported on both days, the 95 per cent interval runs 10.5 to 25.6 points.

Against last year: the observed reading

Today 401 across 59 stations. The year is judged on the 39 matched stations: 422 today against 360, the mean of the same date ±7 days of 2025 at those stations. The interval runs 46.9 to 77.2 points.

The worst station in the city today

Severe, set by PM2.5. Its PM2.5 averaged 381.8 µg/m³ over the 24 hours to 4 PM, 25.4 times the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³. Last year this station read 384 on the mean of the same date ±7 days, so the change is +115.8 points. 16.9 lakh people live within 4 km of this monitor. Within 500 m of the monitor, 82% of the land is built up and 18% is under vegetation, so this reading describes a densely built neighbourhood.

The year, from its best days to its worst

On the same 309 complete dates, 1 January to 5 November, the best tenth of days reads 76.8 against 72.5 and the worst tenth 294.5 against 316.3. The days at or below 200 went from 211 to 219.

How much of the city was above AQI 200

That is 12.4 of 44.4 reporting stations, against 29.9 per cent over the same dates last year, a change of -1.6 points on an interval of -8.5 to +4.8, so it is unchanged inside its margin.

Who the monitoring network reaches

Within 4 km live 92 per cent of Delhi's people, within 2 km 44 per cent, and within 500 m only 3.5 per cent. The map holds 55 monitors in 53 zones; 59 monitors reported today. 33 of the 53 zones stretch past our chosen 4 km proximity threshold, informed by US EPA neighbourhood-scale guidance.

What each monitor's reading speaks for

That is 92.1 per cent of Delhi, living around the 59 monitors that read Poor or worse. Punjabi Bagh was worst at 500, and 16.9 lakh people live within 4 km of it. This counts people near the monitors, not measured individual exposure.

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