ForumIAS LATEST
- 04 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 4 (Ethics) with AIR 7 A.R. Rajah Mohaideen Click Here to register for the session →
- 04 June | GS Advance Program begins from 4th June 2026 | First 2 classes open to all Click Here to register for the event →
- 05 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 3 Strategy Session with AIR 406 Mannat Luthra Click Here to register for the session
- 06 June | Open Orientation on Essay Guidance Program (EGP 2026) Click Here to register →
- 07 June | Open Orientation for Current Affairs for Mains 2026 Click Here to register →
- 07 June | Sociology Optional Strategy Session with AIR 10 Ujjwal Priyank Click Here to register →
Source: This post “Air Quality Index” is based on the article”Delhi AQI ‘severe’ for second day; Mumbai’s air quality persists in ‘moderate’ category“published in “The Indian Express” on 3rd Novermber 2023.
Why in the news?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in New Delhi persisted in the ‘severe’ category, registering at 466, according to the data published by the Central Pollution Control Board.
What is AQI?
| Specification | Details |
| Aim | Measures how safe the air around you is for breathing. |
| Who’s given National Air Quality Index | Launched by Central Pollution Control Board in 2014. |
| Measuring criteria | (1)24 hours average data. Its unit is micrograms per cubic meter. (2)Each pollutants quantity in the air is adjusted to a common scale(say, 0 to 500) that works for all pollutants. |
| NAAQ standards | (1)Central pollution control board is empowered to set standards for air under Air(Prevention and control of pollution). (2)The current National ambient air quality standards were notified by CPCB in 2009. (3)India had set air quality standards in 1994, and this later revised in 1998 |
| Pollutants Covered | (1)Particulate matter (PM2.5) (2)Particulate matter10 (PM10) (3)Ozone (O3) (4)Carbon Monoxide (CO) (5)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) (6)Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) (7)Lead (Pb) (8)Ammonia (NH3) |
| Number of categories | Six- Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe. |
Upsc syllabus- Environment(Pollution)
