Feb 16, 2026: A forest nearby, warmer air, but AQI still ‘moderate’ 

Air quality in Delhi typically improves by February as winter recedes and meteorological conditions turn more favourable. Yet when Newslaundry visited Munirka in South Delhi – next to nearly 1,550 acres of reserved forest – the nearest monitoring station still recorded an AQI of 180, placing it in the “moderate” category.

The BJP government has recently highlighted that the city saw nearly 200 days with the AQI below 200. But that headline figure sits alongside a stark counterpoint: December 2025 was Delhi’s most polluted December in seven years, with a monthly average AQI of 351.

January offered little relief despite 33 percent higher rainfall than usual – a factor that typically helps clear the air. February, too, appears to be following the same pattern.

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