For today’s episode of Aaj Ka AQI, Newslaundry visited Safdarjung Hospital in south Delhi. Official data from the Central Pollution Control Board painted a worrying picture: the AQI stood at 190, with PM2.5 levels at 190 and PM10 at 104.

But the air felt far worse on the ground. Readings from our own air quality monitor showed an AQI of 346 – in the “very poor” category. PM2.5 was recorded at 181, while PM10 touched 188, highlighting a gap between official data and what people are actually breathing.

This disconnect mirrors a larger national crisis. A report released last week by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air found that 44 percent of Indian cities are now facing chronic air pollution. Of the 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme, 28 still do not have continuous air quality monitoring stations. And among the 102 cities that do, 100 reported PM10 levels at 80 percent or higher.

Launched in 2019, the NCAP promised to cut air pollution in 130 cities by 40 percent. Six years on, the air tells a different story.

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.