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Use the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Delhi-NCR AQI portal, select the station nearest your route or home, and note the displayed time, location and averaging period. Treat the Delhi-wide figure as a broad snapshot: neighborhood readings can differ substantially. Read both PM2.5 and PM10, but use the pollutant sub-index that produces the highest relevant value because that sub-index determines the reported AQI category and health signal.
How to check Delhi AQI right now
The most defensible current reading comes from CPCB’s official Delhi-NCR AQI portal and its Central Control Room information. These services bring together readings from multiple monitoring locations. A result is useful only when you know whether it represents one station, a Delhi average or a wider NCR aggregation.
1. Open the official CPCB Delhi-NCR AQI service
Search for the CPCB Delhi-NCR AQI portal or Central Control Room page and open the current-air-quality view. Avoid relying on an undated screenshot, a social-media post or an app that does not identify its source station. The CPCB service is the reference point for the National AQI categories used in India.
2. Select a station that represents your exposure
If you are deciding whether to walk, exercise or commute in a particular neighborhood, choose the monitoring station closest to that route or destination. Record the station name and the displayed timestamp. A station several kilometers away may be affected by different traffic, dust, construction, wind and local emissions, so it can be less representative of what you breathe than a nearby station.
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3. Record the context with the number
- Timestamp shown by the portal.
- Station name and locality.
- Whether the value is a single-station result, a Delhi average or an NCR-wide value.
- Reported AQI category and the prominent pollutant or sub-index.
- PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and their stated averaging period, when shown.
Writing these details down prevents a common mistake: comparing a current station reading with an older city average and treating them as if they measured the same air.
4. Compare the nearby station with the city view
Use the city or regional average for a general sense of Delhi-NCR conditions. Use the nearby station for an immediate exposure decision. If the two differ, that is not automatically a data error; it may reflect neighborhood-level variation or different averaging periods.
5. Check again when your activity changes
A reading taken before a morning commute does not describe conditions later in the day. Check again before outdoor exercise, a school journey, a long construction shift or travel through a visibly dusty corridor. Keep the timestamp each time so you can distinguish a genuine change from a difference between stations.
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What Delhi’s AQI number means
CPCB’s National AQI public-information document, accessed October 15, 2026, uses six bands. The number is a public-health signal, not a direct measurement of the mass of one pollutant.
| AQI | Category | Meaning and practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Little or no risk and minimal expected health impact. |
| 51–100 | Satisfactory | Generally acceptable; sensitive people may notice minor breathing discomfort. |
| 101–200 | Moderate | People with lung disease or asthma, children and older adults may experience breathing discomfort. Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged exertion outdoors. |
| 201–300 | Poor | Prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort for most people. At-risk groups should be especially cautious about moderate outdoor activity. |
| 301–400 | Very Poor | Prolonged exposure raises respiratory-illness risk. Children, older adults and people with existing illness need added protection and should limit unnecessary outdoor time. |
| 401–500 | Severe | Significant effects can occur even in healthy people; people with existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease face serious impacts. |
These bands describe population-level risk, not a guarantee that every person will feel symptoms at a particular number. A person with asthma may react at a lower AQI than someone without a respiratory condition, while a healthy person can still be affected at the upper end of the scale.
How CPCB calculates the overall AQI
CPCB first converts each pollutant concentration into a pollutant-specific sub-index. The sub-index reflects how that measured concentration maps to the National AQI scale. The overall value is then governed by the highest relevant sub-index. In CPCB’s wording, “The highest relevant sub-index becomes the reported AQI category and public health signal for that period.”
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This explains why the AQI is not simply whichever raw PM number appears larger. PM2.5 and PM10 use different concentration-to-index relationships, and other monitored pollutants can also produce a relevant sub-index. A lower PM10 concentration therefore does not guarantee a low AQI if PM2.5 generates the highest sub-index; the reverse is also possible.
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What to look for on the portal
- The overall AQI number and category.
- The pollutant identified as prominent or responsible for the highest sub-index.
- Individual PM2.5 and PM10 values.
- The station and time associated with those values.
Start with the overall category for a quick decision, then inspect the pollutant details to understand what is driving it. Do not rank danger by comparing the two raw concentration numbers alone.
PM2.5 versus PM10: what the readings describe
| Reading | What it is | Common Delhi-area sources identified by CPCB | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | Fine particulate matter made of microscopic particles. | Vehicle exhaust, biomass burning, coal combustion, diesel generators and secondary aerosol formation. | Fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and are important when assessing inhalation exposure. |
| PM10 | Coarser inhalable particulate matter. | Road dust, construction, quarrying, industrial handling and soil that is resuspended by traffic or wind. | Can irritate the throat and airways, cause coughing and breathing discomfort, and worsen respiratory disease. |
How to read PM2.5
PM2.5 particles are small enough to travel deep into the respiratory system. CPCB associates them with combustion and with particles formed in the atmosphere from gaseous pollutants. A high PM2.5 value can occur even when the street looks clear because fine particles are not reliably visible.
When PM2.5 is the pollutant producing the highest sub-index, give that result priority in your exposure decision. Reduce prolonged strenuous activity outdoors as the AQI worsens, particularly if you have asthma, another lung condition or cardiovascular disease.
How to read PM10
PM10 includes larger inhalable particles that are often linked to dust-generating activity. Construction, road traffic on dusty surfaces, quarrying and industrial material handling can raise PM10. You may see or feel dust, but visibility is not a dependable substitute for a measurement.
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A high PM10 value can produce the highest sub-index and therefore set the overall AQI. If dust is the driver, avoiding dusty routes and reducing vigorous activity near construction can lower your exposure even when a city average looks less concerning.
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Why both numbers belong in your check
PM2.5 and PM10 describe different particle-size fractions and often have different local sources. Checking both helps explain the result: combustion-related fine particles may dominate one period, while a dust event may make PM10 the limiting pollutant. The AQI category tells you the combined public-health signal; the two PM readings help you understand the likely source and choose practical precautions.
Is Delhi AQI based on PM2.5 or PM10?
It can be based on either, depending on which pollutant has the highest relevant sub-index for the station and period. CPCB’s method is not a permanent PM2.5-only or PM10-only formula. Each available pollutant is converted to its own sub-index, and the highest relevant sub-index determines the reported AQI category and health signal.
For example, a station can show a numerically larger PM10 concentration while PM2.5 still produces the higher sub-index, or PM10 can be the pollutant that sets the category during a dust episode. The portal’s prominent-pollutant or sub-index information is more informative than guessing from the larger raw number.
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Trust is primarily a question of relevance and context, not of finding one station that is always “correct.” CPCB warns that readings vary by location. A station close to your normal activity is usually the better guide to your immediate exposure, while a Delhi or NCR average is better for understanding the broad regional pattern.
Use this station-selection order
- Match the location. Choose the station nearest your home, workplace, school route or exercise area.
- Match the time. Prefer a current timestamp and note whether another result is older.
- Match the averaging period. Compare readings only when their averaging periods are the same or clearly understood.
- Check data completeness. Treat a result cautiously if the portal indicates missing or incomplete observations.
- Identify the geographic scope. Label every value as a single station, Delhi average or NCR average.
When the worst station matters
The Central Control Room states that the worst-station AQI may be considered for health advisory and action. That policy perspective is different from estimating one individual’s exposure. For public-health response, the highest reported station can be important; for your personal decision, start with the station near you and then check whether a worse nearby station or regional trend signals deteriorating conditions.
How to handle two nearby stations that disagree
- Compare their timestamps before comparing numbers.
- Check whether one is a station value and the other is an average.
- Compare PM2.5, PM10 and the pollutant driving each AQI.
- Consider local conditions such as a construction site, heavy traffic or open dust.
- For a cautious decision, use the higher relevant AQI when you cannot determine which station better matches your route.
Do not discard a station merely because its value is higher. A higher value may reflect a genuine local hotspot that a city average smooths out.
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Comparing CPCB readings with a home PM monitor
A consumer monitor can help you observe indoor and outdoor patterns, but it is supplemental. It does not replace CPCB’s official station data or National AQI calculation.
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|---|---|
| Particle channels | Does the device report both PM2.5 and PM10, or only one size fraction? |
| Calibration and quality documentation | Does the manufacturer explain calibration, sensor limitations and maintenance? |
| Update interval | How often does the device refresh, and is it showing a short-term value rather than the same averaging period as CPCB? |
| Placement | Was it placed indoors or outdoors, near a window, cooking source, road, purifier outlet or dust source? |
| Geographic meaning | Is it measuring your room or yard, rather than the wider area represented by a CPCB station? |
Why a monitor may not match CPCB
The instruments may be in different places, use different update intervals and represent different averaging periods. Indoor cooking, filtration, ventilation and open windows can make an indoor monitor diverge from an outdoor station. A consumer sensor may also require calibration or have limitations in high humidity or at concentration extremes. Use it to spot changes in your own environment, and use CPCB for the official AQI category and regional comparison.
A sensible two-source routine
- Check the nearby CPCB station for the official outdoor AQI.
- Check your monitor’s PM2.5 and PM10 channels for indoor conditions, if available.
- Record the time and placement of both readings.
- Investigate a persistent difference by checking ventilation, cooking, filtration and sensor documentation rather than assuming one number is universally right.
What to do at each AQI level
Good and Satisfactory (0–100)
Most people can continue ordinary outdoor activity. Sensitive people should pay attention to symptoms, especially when the value is near the upper end of Satisfactory, because CPCB notes that minor breathing discomfort can occur in sensitive individuals. Continue checking before unusually long or strenuous outdoor sessions.
Moderate (101–200)
People with lung disease or asthma, children and older adults should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion. A healthy adult may be able to perform routine activities, but a long, intense workout increases inhaled air volume and deserves more caution. Choose a less trafficked route or move exercise indoors when practical.
Poor (201–300)
Prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort for most people. At-risk groups should avoid extended or strenuous outdoor activity where possible. If you must travel, shorten time in heavy traffic and dusty areas, and monitor symptoms rather than relying on the category alone.
Very Poor (301–400)
Limit unnecessary outdoor exposure, particularly for children, older adults and people with respiratory or cardiovascular illness. Postpone strenuous outdoor exercise and follow local advisories. Keep checking the station relevant to your route because a city average can hide a more polluted neighborhood.
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Severe (401–500)
Significant effects are possible even for healthy people, while existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease can be seriously affected. Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity and follow official local instructions. CPCB advises using a mask when pollution is severe or when high-pollution travel cannot be avoided. A mask reduces exposure; it does not make polluted outdoor air safe, and the CPCB material does not establish one universal “safe” AQI threshold or endorse a specific mask brand or model.
Using AQI for common Delhi decisions
Outdoor exercise
Check the nearby station immediately before exercising. Consider both the category and the pollutant driver: dust-related PM10 may make a construction-adjacent route especially unattractive, while high PM2.5 calls for caution even when the air looks clear. As the category rises, shorten, move indoors or postpone prolonged strenuous activity.
School commuting and children
Use the station along the actual school route rather than only a Delhi-wide average. At Moderate and higher levels, reduce prolonged exertion for children; at Very Poor or Severe levels, limit unnecessary time outdoors and follow school or local advisories.
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Check before scheduling dusty work or prolonged outdoor shifts. A high PM10 reading, a nearby hotspot or a rising AQI can justify changing the timing or reducing exposure. Record the station and time used for the decision so workers and supervisors are using the same information.
Protecting vulnerable family members
People with asthma, other lung disease or cardiovascular disease, as well as children and older adults, should take precautions earlier than a healthy adult might. Reduce prolonged outdoor exertion as AQI rises and seek medical advice for symptoms that are severe, unusual or worsening.
Common mistakes and how to correct them
- Using an old screenshot: open the live CPCB view and record its timestamp.
- Treating the Delhi average as your street: check the nearest station for an exposure decision.
- Choosing the larger PM number: inspect which pollutant has the highest sub-index.
- Comparing unlike values: align station, time, geographic scope and averaging period.
- Assuming visibility proves safety: fine PM2.5 can be present without obvious haze, while visible dust does not by itself quantify PM10.
- Assuming a personal sensor is authoritative: use it as a supplemental indoor or local trend indicator and keep CPCB as the official AQI reference.
- Waiting for symptoms: check before planned exposure, especially for vulnerable people, because health effects are not limited to people who immediately feel discomfort.
A two-minute Delhi AQI checklist
- Open the CPCB Delhi-NCR AQI or Central Control Room view.
- Read the timestamp, station and geographic scope.
- Note the overall AQI number and category.
- Identify the pollutant with the highest relevant sub-index.
- Read both PM2.5 and PM10 values and their averaging period, if shown.
- Compare the result with the station nearest your planned activity.
- Reduce prolonged outdoor exertion as conditions worsen, with earlier precautions for sensitive groups.
- At Very Poor or Severe levels, limit unnecessary exposure, follow local advisories and use a mask for unavoidable high-pollution travel as CPCB advises.
The most useful record is not just “Delhi AQI: 250.” It is “AQI 250, Poor, station name, timestamp, PM2.5 and PM10 values, and the pollutant driving the highest sub-index.” That context lets you make a better decision and recognize when two apparently conflicting readings are actually describing different places or times.
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