Today’s Aaj Ka AQI comes from AIIMS Delhi, India’s flagship health institute directly impacted by worsening air quality .

While the nearest official monitor showed a lower reading of 197 in the ‘poor’ category, our on-ground check pegged it at 467, in the ‘severe’ category.

This follows sharp pollution spikes across Delhi, triggering GRAP-4, the strictest stage of the Graded Response Action Plan. Doctors at AIIMS earlier warned the crisis has moved beyond discomfort, with falling lung capacity and a rise in respiratory illnesses.

In this episode, we explain GRAP-3 vs GRAP-4 – what changes, what restrictions kick in, and why clean air still remains out of reach.

This show is part of a collaborative campaign to tackle air pollution. Here’s how you can join the Fight To Breathe. Click here to power this campaign.