📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Weather
Delhi AQI readings vary: Some apps show 3,000 while others show 300
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 03:01 PM
👁 8
Pollution monitoring apps are reporting wildly different Air Quality Index values for Delhi, ranging from 300 to 3,000, sparking confusion among residents.
Several mobile applications that track air quality in the capital are showing dramatically different AQI numbers for the same day, with some indicating a value of 300 and others as high as 3,000. The stark contrast has left commuters and residents questioning which figure accurately reflects the city’s pollution level.
The Economic Times examined the discrepancy, noting that the variation stems from the fact that each app relies on its own data feed and calculation method. Some platforms pull real‑time sensor data from private networks, while others use government‑issued forecasts, leading to divergent results.
Authorities advise the public to refer to the official readings released by the Central Pollution Control Board for the most reliable assessment, while also acknowledging that rapid changes in weather and traffic can cause short‑term fluctuations in the index.
The Economic Times examined the discrepancy, noting that the variation stems from the fact that each app relies on its own data feed and calculation method. Some platforms pull real‑time sensor data from private networks, while others use government‑issued forecasts, leading to divergent results.
Authorities advise the public to refer to the official readings released by the Central Pollution Control Board for the most reliable assessment, while also acknowledging that rapid changes in weather and traffic can cause short‑term fluctuations in the index.