📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Weather
Delhi AQI Confusion: How Can Readings Be Both 1,000+ and 500?
✍️ NDTV
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 06:37 PM
👁 14
Delhi’s air quality index has shown wildly divergent values, with some monitors reporting levels above 1,000 while others indicate below 500, sparking confusion among residents and officials.
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) readings have recently displayed a stark disparity, with certain monitoring stations reporting values exceeding 1,000, while others show figures below 500. The discrepancy has raised concerns about the reliability of the data and the methods used to calculate the AQI.
NDTV has highlighted that the conflicting numbers stem from differences in the sensors, data processing algorithms, and the specific pollutants each station prioritizes. Some stations focus heavily on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), whereas others incorporate a broader range of pollutants, leading to divergent results.
Officials have urged the public to consult multiple reputable sources and to follow guidelines issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. They also emphasized that, regardless of the exact number, the city’s air quality remains a serious health concern.
The city’s environmental authorities are reviewing the monitoring network to ensure consistency and transparency in future AQI reporting.
NDTV has highlighted that the conflicting numbers stem from differences in the sensors, data processing algorithms, and the specific pollutants each station prioritizes. Some stations focus heavily on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), whereas others incorporate a broader range of pollutants, leading to divergent results.
Officials have urged the public to consult multiple reputable sources and to follow guidelines issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. They also emphasized that, regardless of the exact number, the city’s air quality remains a serious health concern.
The city’s environmental authorities are reviewing the monitoring network to ensure consistency and transparency in future AQI reporting.