Delhi’s air pollution has been a cause of concern for the residents for years now. However, recently, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shared the average air quality index (AQI) data, stating that Delhi experienced its cleanest air in July 2025, marking the best air quality in the past decade. Keep reading to know the details.
Delhi Recorded The Cleanest Air In July 2025
In July 2025, Delhi experienced rainfall on 23 days out of 31, which helped the city breathe better. Delhi witnessed its cleanest air in July 2025, the best for the month in the past decade. According to Hindustan Times, for this report, the CPCB compared AQI data from 2015 to 2025. As per their categories, AQI between 0 and 50 is “good”, 51 to 100 is considered “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 is “moderate”, 201 to 300 is “poor”, 301 to 400 is “very poor”, and lastly, over 400 is considered “severe”.
According to CPCB’s categorisation, till July 30, the monthly average air quality index (AQI) of the capital was 79, which is considered “satisfactory.” This month, Delhi had 28 “satisfactory” days and only two “moderate” days.
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July Average Air Quality Index (AQI)
Here’s what Delhi’s July average air quality index looked like over the past few years –
July 2024- 96
July 2023- 83.67
July 2022- 87.29
July 2021- 110.06
July 2020- 83.80
July 2019- 134
July 2018- 103.83
July 2017- 98.39
The highest AQI for July in Delhi was recorded in 2016, and that was 145.64, and then in 2015 it was 138.13.
In July 2025, the average air quality index in major cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Patna was recorded as “satisfactory”. Meanwhile, cities as Vapi, Visakhapatnam, Sri Ganganagar, Pali, Nandesari, Nagaur, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Durgapur, Bikaner, Byrnihat, Chhapra, and Barmer recorded “moderate”. This year, the majority of cities recorded “good” air quality. Interestingly, none fell into the “poor,” “very poor,” or “severe” categories.
Highlighting overall improved air quality, an air pollution expert and executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, Anumita Roychowdhury, in talks with Hindustan Times, stated that frequent rainfalls played a major role in air quality improvement.
While the AQI improvement in Delhi is a major relief, we hope that this continues in the coming months, with the right measures, as well.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Harjeet Singh Narang