New Delhi, June 1 -- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that Delhi recorded its lowest average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the January-May period in the last eight years, excluding the Covid-affected year of 2020. The average AQI for the first five months of 2026 stood at 211, compared with 214 in 2025, 231 in 2024, 213 in 2023, 238 in 2022, 235 in 2021, 181 in 2020, 237 in 2019, and 243 in 2018.

The CAQM also noted that Delhi's average AQI during May 2026 was 157, the second-lowest for the month during the past eight years, excluding 2020 and 2021. This compares with 170 in 2025, 223 in 2024, 171 in 2023, 212 in 2022, 144 in both 2021 and 2020, 221 in 2019, and 217 in 2018.

According to the Commission, Delhi recorded...