Nandini Killa, Amit Moza and Monika Koul

Pollution has reached astronomically alarming levels over the last two months, with AQI (Air Quality Index) readings as high as ~380 reported in Delhi-NCR, based on CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) data, indicating unhealthy air for all and especially dangerous for sensitive groups. More recently, the capital of India has also topped the list of most polluted capital cities of the world, with the AQI surpassing a level of 400, which reflects a significantly hazardous air quality. Winter months (from November to January) in the capital have been consistently associated with spiked AQI in many northern states, including Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of central India. As per the World Air Quality Report 2024, air quality in Delhi in the winter was put in the poor category as well. A study by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) found that stubble burning does cause temporal and spatial changes in air quality and contributes to short-term pollution spikes. However, research conducted by leading institutes such as the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) over the last two years suggests that multiple factors contribute to worsening the crisis during winters…read more on NOPR