Tue Dec 31 17:08:15 UTC 2024: ## Delhi’s Air Quality Shows Significant Improvement in 2024
**New Delhi, [Date]** – Delhi enjoyed its cleanest air in six years in 2024, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The city recorded 209 days with “good to moderate” air quality, the highest since 2018, excluding the COVID-19 lockdown year of 2020.
This marks a significant improvement compared to previous years, with the number of “good to moderate” days fluctuating between 159 and 206 since 2018. Conversely, the number of “poor to severe” air quality days dropped to 157, the lowest since 2018.
February, August, and December boasted the best average Air Quality Index (AQI) in six years. However, January saw the worst air quality since 2018, with an average AQI of 355 due to stagnant wind conditions. Dry spells and high-speed winds from April to June, particularly in May, brought increased dust and pollution, resulting in the worst May AQI since 2018.
Despite the poor performance in January and May, the annual average AQI remained strong, tying with 2021 and 2022 as the second-best on record. This improvement is attributed, in part, to a significant drop in stubble burning incidents in Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding areas, falling to 12,750 this year. The CAQM highlighted the positive impact of these factors in contributing to the overall improvement in Delhi’s air quality.
First Piper 