Delhi Records Severe Air Quality Levels Ahead of Diwali, Government Announces Seasonal Vehicle Restrictions

Delhi recorded severe air quality levels on Saturday morning, emerging as the most polluted major city globally according to live rankings by Swiss group IQAir. At 10:35 am, IQAir recorded a US air quality index reading of 581, which was double the reading of Lahore in neighboring Pakistan. The Swiss group's methodology relies on concentrations of air pollutants and differs from India's official index scale.

India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported Delhi's air quality index at 363 at 10 a.m., placing it in the 'very poor' category. This followed a 24-hour average AQI of 382 recorded at 4 p.m. on Friday. According to CPCB standards, an AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as 'very poor', while 401 to 500 is considered 'severe'. Out of 59 air quality monitoring stations across the city, 18 recorded readings in the severe category on Saturday morning. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecasted that the overall AQI would reach the severe category on the same day.

Weather conditions accompanied the high pollution levels, with the Safdarjung weather station recording a minimum temperature of 16.2 degrees Celsius, which is 1.9 degrees below normal and one degree lower than Friday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast indicates that mostly clear skies are expected over the coming days.

To address the seasonal deterioration in air quality, the Delhi government announced regulatory measures under its Winter Action Plan aimed at limiting vehicular emissions and road dust. The transport department issued a public notification stating that vehicles registered in other states or Union Territories that fall below BS-VI emission standards will be barred from plying in Delhi every year between November 1 and January 31.

Furthermore, the notification specified that effective November 1, 2026, commercial goods vehicles—including large, medium, and heavy goods vehicles—as well as buses operating below BS-IV norms, including those under the All-India Tourist Permit and other service regimes, will be prohibited from entering Delhi.

"Severe environmental conditions and stricter regulatory frameworks, such as seasonal vehicle bans and emission norms, directly impact supply chains, logistics, and commercial transport operations in the National Capital Region. Businesses operating fleets or relying on interstate freight must factor these recurring seasonal restrictions into their operational planning and compliance strategies." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes