delhi-aqi-drops-to-85-lowest-in-3-years

On Saturday, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 85, marking the lowest level in the past three years for the period between January 1 and March 15.

 

This improvement brings the AQI into the ‘Satisfactory’ category, which encompasses values between 50 and 100.

 

According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, this is the first time in 2025 that Delhi’s AQI has fallen under the satisfactory range. The Commission also noted that this is the first time in five years, since 2020, that the capital has experienced a 'Satisfactory' AQI in March.

 

“The recorded AQI of 85 today is the lowest in the past three years for the period from January 1 to March 15. It also marks the first day this year that Delhi has experienced a ‘Satisfactory’ AQI,” the Commission shared on its social media platform X.

 

As Delhi experiences a shift in weather, temperatures across the region are beginning to rise. In northern Karnataka, Ainapur Hobli village in Kalaburagi district recorded the highest temperature in the last 24 hours, reaching 42.8°C.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast indicating a rise in maximum temperatures by 2 to 4°C over north Interior Karnataka from March 15 to 17.

 

Furthermore, the IMD has issued a heat wave warning for March 18 to 19, predicting such conditions in isolated areas of north Interior Karnataka.

 

In contrast, no significant temperature changes are expected in south Interior Karnataka over the next 24 hours, although a gradual rise of 2 to 3°C is anticipated in the following days.

 

Several districts in Karnataka, including Kalaburagi, Bidar, Bagalkote, Raichur, Yadgir, and Vijayapura, have already recorded temperatures above 40°C. Locations such as Bagalkote and Belagavi also saw maximum temperatures soar beyond 40°C.

 

Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR experienced a brief change in weather as the skies darkened, with light rain reported in some parts of south Delhi on Friday evening. The IMD has forecasted a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of isolated light rain in northwest India’s plains in the coming days.