Delhi has recorded its best air quality for September since 2021, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 102, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This represents a significant improvement compared to previous years, where the average AQI stood at 105 in 2025, 108 in 2023, and 104 in 2022.

Between January and September 2026, the city also noted a rise in days classified as ‘Moderate’, with 194 days demonstrating a daily average AQI below 200. This marks an improvement over 2025 when there were 187 days, showing a positive trend in air quality management.

The number of days categorised as ‘Poor to Severe’ also dropped significantly, with only 79 such instances reported in 2026. This is a decrease compared to 86 in both 2025 and 2024, indicating effective measures may be having a cumulative effect on air quality.

Declining Stubble Burning Incidents

The enhancement in Delhi’s air quality coincides with a notable decline in stubble-burning incidences in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. Recent data indicates that from September 15 to 29, the two states recorded only 54 farm-fire incidents, drastically lower than the 289 incidents reported in the corresponding period of 2023.

In detail, Punjab reported 52 incidents while Haryana noted just two. In contrast, incidents between September 15 and 29 in 2025 registered a total of 102. This decline in stubble burning is likely contributing to the improvement in air quality observed in the capital.

Such a reduction in agricultural fires has been highlighted as a key factor in enhancing the overall air quality in Delhi and surrounding regions during the critical months leading into winter.

Impact of Weather Conditions

The recent improvement in the capital’s air quality is particularly striking given the minimal rainfall received in September 2026. The city experienced only six rainy days, accompanied by a total rainfall of 79.7 mm, making it the second-lowest September rainfall since 2020.

Over the years, September rainfall figures have varied significantly, as seen in the 136.1 mm recorded in 2025 and the 192.5 mm in 2024. The lack of precipitation this year raises questions about the sustainability of cleaner air as pollutants are likely to reaccumulate following the brief respite.

Experts have expressed caution regarding the interpretation of September’s air quality as a sign of a lasting improvement. Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), noted that while the monsoon has played a role in this year’s AQI improvement, this trend should not be assumed to represent a permanent change.

As October begins, it is anticipated that AQI levels may rise again as the atmospheric dispersal of pollutants decreases, typical of seasonal trends that see air quality decline sharply from October onwards, often leading to ‘Poor’ or ‘Very Poor’ classifications lasting through January.

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