Air Quality in North India Right Now
Tap a city for details. Updated every hour.
How the AQI Checker Works
Search any city, town or village in India, or use your location. The checker shows the current Air Quality Index (AQI) on India’s national scale, the main pollutant, the level of each pollutant, health advice and the expected air quality for the next three days.
The index follows the National Air Quality Index method of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It uses the 24-hour average of PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, and the 8-hour average of ozone and carbon monoxide. The overall AQI is the highest of these sub-indices, and that pollutant is shown as the main pollutant.
Where the data comes from
Pollutant levels come from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) air-quality model, provided by Open-Meteo. Model values are estimates for the area and can differ from a nearby monitoring station, especially close to busy roads or during fog and crop-burning episodes. For official station readings, see the CPCB SAMEER app or the CPCB website.
How a Pollutant Becomes an AQI Number
Each pollutant has its own set of concentration bands, called breakpoints, and each band corresponds to a range of index values. The checker finds the band that a pollutant’s average falls into and scales it proportionally within that band to give a sub-index.
A worked example
Suppose the 24-hour average of PM2.5 in a town is 75 µg/m³. Under the CPCB scale, PM2.5 between 61 and 90 µg/m³ corresponds to an index of 101 to 200. A reading of 75 sits halfway through that band, so the PM2.5 sub-index is about 150. If PM10 at the same time averages 180 µg/m³, it falls in the 101–250 µg/m³ band, which also maps to 101–200, and works out to a sub-index of about 153. The other gases are much lower. The overall AQI is the highest sub-index, so the town’s AQI is 153 in the Moderate category, with PM10 shown as the main pollutant.
This is why the main pollutant changes with the season. In the dusty months before the monsoon, coarse PM10 often drives the index. In winter, fine PM2.5 from smoke and vehicle exhaust usually takes over, while ozone can lead on bright, still summer afternoons.
How the forecast figure is chosen
For each of the next three days, the checker calculates the index for every hour and shows the highest value, labelled as the expected peak. A day marked Poor may still have Moderate hours, usually around midday, when sunlight and wind help to disperse pollution. That pattern is the reason long drives across the plains are better planned for the afternoon during the smog season.
India AQI Categories
| AQI | Category | Possible health impact |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 50 | Good | Minimal impact |
| 51 – 100 | Satisfactory | Minor breathing discomfort for sensitive people |
| 101 – 200 | Moderate | Breathing discomfort for people with lung or heart disease, children and older adults |
| 201 – 300 | Poor | Breathing discomfort for most people on prolonged exposure |
| 301 – 400 | Very Poor | Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure |
| 401 – 500 | Severe | Affects healthy people and seriously affects those with existing diseases |
Travelling When the Air Is Poor
- Escape to the hills. In November and December, smog often covers Delhi, Haryana and Punjab while hill stations such as Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali usually have good air. Compare cities in the list above before you plan a trip.
- Drive in the afternoon. Pollution and fog are usually worst late at night and early in the morning on the plains, so plan long drives for the middle of the day.
- Keep windows closed and recirculate. In heavy traffic, set the car’s air conditioning to recirculate to keep out exhaust fumes.
- Wear a well-fitted N95 mask outdoors when the AQI is Poor or worse, especially for children, older travellers and anyone with asthma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same AQI shown by CPCB?
The checker uses the same CPCB method and categories, but it calculates the index from model estimates rather than from a single monitoring station. The number can therefore differ somewhat from the reading of a particular station.
Why is the AQI higher in winter in North India?
In winter, cold, calm air traps pollution close to the ground. Vehicle exhaust, dust, burning of waste and seasonal crop-residue burning add to it, so the AQI often reaches Poor or Very Poor levels in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab from October to January.
How often is the air quality updated?
The data is updated every hour, and the three-day forecast is updated several times a day.
Can I plan the rest of my road trip here?
Yes. Use our Toll Calculator, Fuel Cost Calculator and Road Trip Stopover Planner to plan your journey.