Jan 2, 2026: New Year is here, but Delhi’s air quality remains ‘poor’

Today’s Aaj Ka AQI is from Sanjay Van in South Delhi – one of the greenest stretches in the city, where people come to run, jog and walk. The nearest monitoring station to Sanjay Van is Aurobindo Marg, where the AQI at 11 am was 270 in the 'poor' category. Our monitoring device showed an AQI of 280, close to the figure displayed on the CPCB's monitor.

Every new year inspires fresh promises for better health, but Delhi's air quality makes it hard to keep them. The air quality in December was so bad that outdoor activities did not yield any health benefits. Delhi's air quality in December was the worst in the last seven years, according to CPCB data. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cold wave conditions at isolated spots in the city between January 2 and 5, which could further affect air quality.

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