What was Delhi's average PM2.5 concentration between 1 January and 29 October 2026?
- A.69 micrograms per cubic metre
- B.72 micrograms per cubic metre
- C.83 micrograms per cubic metre
- D.93 micrograms per cubic metre
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is 69 micrograms per cubic metre. For the stretch from 1 January to 29 October 2026 the average concentration of fine particulate matter, PM2.5, in Delhi's air worked out to 69 micrograms per cubic metre, the lowest of the years compared. Option B is the figure for the same period of 2025, when the average was 72. Option C belongs to 2024, which stood at 83. Option D belongs to 2018, the worst of the set at 93. The coarser fraction, PM10, averaged 171 micrograms per cubic metre in 2026 for the same dates, against 166 in 2025 and 216 in 2018. Taken with the monthly average index of 166 for October and the 220 days in the 'Good to Moderate' band, the particulate readings point the same way as the index.
Read the full article: Delhi Logs Best October Air Quality in Eight Years at AQI 166
Practice Questions
What was Delhi's monthly average Air Quality Index for October 2026?
- A.143
- B.166
- C.189
- D.223
Show answer
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change put Delhi's monthly average Air Quality Index for October 2026 at 166, the lowest average the capital has recorded for the month of October in the past eight years.
Read the full explanation →How many 'Good to Moderate' air quality days did Delhi record between January and October 2026?
- A.200 days
- B.206 days
- C.220 days
- D.224 days
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In the ten months from January to October 2026 the capital counted 220 days whose daily average stayed below 200 on the index, which is the band described as 'Good to Moderate'.
Read the full explanation →On which principle does the PAVAN Integrated Command and Control Centre operate?
- A.Detect, Analyse, Act
- B.Measure, Report, Verify
- C.Monitor, Warn, Penalise
- D.Observe, Forecast, Inform
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The minister explained that the centre works on this principle, bringing data from many agencies onto a common platform for real-time and historical study of pollution levels, identification of sources, assessment of trends and tracking of compliance in the field against prescribed standards.
Read the full explanation →How many continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations feed data into the PAVAN platform?
- A.88
- B.96
- C.111
- D.134
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The platform integrates readings from 111 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations that are operational across Delhi and the national capital region, installed by the Central Pollution Control Board, the India Meteorological Department and the state pollution control boards.
Read the full explanation →In the name of CAQM's new command centre, what does PAVAN stand for?
- A.Pollution Alert and Vigilance Agency Network
- B.Platform for Air quality Vigilance and Analytics for NCR
- C.Programme for Air Ventilation and Atmospheric Nowcasting
- D.Platform for Ambient Verification and Air Numbers
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The Commission for Air Quality Management built this Integrated Command and Control Centre in New Delhi as a single-window digital nerve centre for the capital region, and the Union Environment Minister reviewed its technological framework and operational readiness.
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