Report · 12 November 2026

500 AQI at Chandni Chowk, 24 hours to 4 PM, 12 November 2026, the worst monitor in Delhi today, Severe on CPCB's documented formula, and PM10 set that figure. 13.4 lakh people live within 4 km of it.

364.6

TODAY

Delhi's AQI calculated with CPCB's documented formula, the mean of 57 stations.

2.02 crore

NEAR POOR OR WORSE

Within 4 km of 56 Poor-or-worse monitors: 89.3 per cent of Delhi, every pollutant counted.

13.3x

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, 4.3 MB

The day in brief

Delhi's AQI was 364.6, Very Poor, calculated with CPCB's documented formula as the mean of 57 stations' AQIs (CPCB's note "How is AQI calculated?" and its AQI Calculator; page 29 sets out the formula). As measured, 57 of the 57 monitors reading PM2.5 were above the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³. Above AQI 200 today: 56 stations, Chandni Chowk 500, IIT Delhi 500, NSIT Dwarka 457, North Campus 443, and 52 more in the station table. Poor or worse air reached 2.02 crore people within 4 km of their monitor today, 89.3 per cent of Delhi.

The year so far, 1 January to 11 November: the cleaner days of 2026 have been the dirtiest for these dates since 2019, because three days in four read above 108.4 on the particle AQI, against 95.3 on the same dates of 2025. The middle day reads 158.1 against 147.2 on the same dates last year. On an average day, 29.7 per cent of Delhi's reporting monitors, about 13 of 45, sat above 200 on the particle AQI.

The findings

What the report says

Against yesterday: the one-day move

From 331 to 365. On the 56 stations that reported on both days, the 95 per cent interval runs 27.5 to 40.1 points.

Against last year: the observed reading

Today 365 across 57 stations. The year is judged on the 38 matched stations: 372 today against 392, the mean of the same date ±7 days of 2025 at those stations. The interval runs -37 to -2.3 points.

The worst station in the city today

Severe, set by PM10. Its PM10 averaged 571.1 µg/m³ over the 24 hours to 4 PM, 12.6 times the WHO 24-hour guideline of 45 µg/m³. Last year this station read 448 on the mean of the same date ±7 days, so the change is +52.5 points. 13.4 lakh people live within 4 km of this monitor. Within 500 m of the monitor, 89% of the land is built up and 10% is under vegetation, so this reading describes a densely built neighbourhood.

The year, from its best days to its worst

On the same 315 complete dates, 1 January to 11 November, the best tenth of days reads 78.3 against 72.6 and the worst tenth 306.1 against 322.0. The days at or below 200 went from 211 to 219.

How much of the city was above AQI 200

That is 13.3 of 44.6 reporting stations, against 31.3 per cent over the same dates last year, a change of -1.5 points on an interval of -8.4 to +4.6, so it is unchanged inside its margin. On 2025's own monitors, 2026 reads 31.2 per cent against 31.3 in 2025.

How many station-hours were above AQI 200, and at 500

Against 31.7 per cent over the same dates in 2025. On 2025's own monitors, 2026 reads 32.9 per cent against 31.7, and at AQI 500 2.32 against 2.18. 7,009 station-hours in 2026 stood at AQI 500, 2.09 per cent of all hours measured.

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; 57 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 89.3 per cent of Delhi, living around the 56 monitors that read Poor or worse. Chandni Chowk was worst at 500, and 13.4 lakh people live within 4 km of it. This counts people near the monitors, not measured individual exposure.

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