Feb 25, 2026: Poor air quality outside the Supreme Court

For today’s Aaj Ka AQI, Newslaundry visited the Supreme Court. The nearest CPCB monitoring station reported an AQI of 282, while our own monitor recorded 230. Both readings place the air quality firmly in the ‘poor’ category (201–300).

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court sought responses from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Ministry of Power on a proposal to shift all coal-based industries out of the Delhi-NCR region to improve air quality. The ministries have been asked to respond to a suggestion by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to ban new coal-based thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi.

These plants spew particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and toxins directly fuelling Delhi's deadly air pollution.

This update comes just a few months after an RTI revealed that CPCB has not conducted comprehensive stack-emission monitoring at any of the 11 coal-fired thermal power plants within 300 km of Delhi for over a decade.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 12, when the court is also expected to address vehicular pollution.

Watch.

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