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Delhi's Air Crisis: Beyond Winter Smog
2 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Delhi's air quality worsens year-round, not just in winter.
- NO2 levels recently hit three times the national safe limit.
- Ozone pollution is a growing summer concern in Delhi-NCR.
Delhi's air quality crisis is escalating beyond its notorious winter smog, presenting a year-round challenge. From October to February, poor to severe air quality has been a recurring issue, but recent evidence indicates pollution persists throughout the year. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, a critical transport pollutant, have recently reached three times the national safe limit and nearly ten times the WHO limit in several Delhi areas, raising health alarms.
Ground-level ozone, a secondary pollutant formed from NO2 and volatile organic compounds, is increasingly problematic, especially during warmer months. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board highlights Delhi-NCR as having the highest ozone concentrations in India. This complex pollution mix, intensified by heat, demands structural, long-term solutions rather than reactive interventions like seasonal bans.
