Pollution Scenario in Delhi After Deepavali (Nov 2026)
Data from the IITM indicate that firecrackers were the single biggest source of air‑pollution in Delhi on 9 Nov 2026 and continued to dominate on 10 Nov 2026. The Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’, underscoring the health risk to residents.
Key Developments
- Firecrackers contributed 71.1% of the pollution load on 9 Nov 2026, dropping to 29.8% on 10 Nov 2026.
- Vehicular emissions rose from 6.9% (9 Nov) to 11.7% (10 Nov), becoming the third‑largest source on the latter day.
- Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) accounted for 17.5% of the load on 10 Nov, emerging as the second‑largest contributor.
- AQI recorded 299 at 4 p.m. on 10 Nov (‘poor’ category) and climbed to 312 on 11 Nov (‘very poor’ category).
Important Facts from the Study
The source‑apportionment model provides percentage contributions of various pollutants, each with a standard deviation (SD) indicating model uncertainty. On 9 Nov, the SD for firecracker contribution was 104.1 percentage points, reflecting high variability; on 10 Nov it fell to 27.7 percentage points.
Other identified sources and their shares on 9 Nov were:
- Secondary inorganic aerosols – 5%
- Secondary organic aerosols – 4.5%
- Mixed or unresolved biofuel – 4.45%
- Mineral dust and ash – 2.5% each
- Wood burning – 1.3%
- Waste burning (municipal & plastic‑rubber) – 1.1%
- Coal combustion – 0.5%
- Industrial emissions – 0.2%
On 10 Nov, the profile shifted, with notable increases in vehicular emissions, wood burning (10.7%) and waste burning (7.7%).
Exam Relevance
Understanding the composition of air‑pollution sources is vital for several GS papers:
- AQI categories (e.g., ‘poor’, ‘very poor’) help assess public‑health impact.
- Firecracker‑related emissions illustrate the link between cultural practices and environmental degradation, a recurring theme in GS3 (Environment) and GS1 (Geography).
- Source‑apportionment methodology showcases how scientific data informs policy, relevant for GS4 (Science & Tech) and GS3 (Economy) when discussing cost‑benefit analyses of pollution control.
- Vehicular emissions and secondary aerosols highlight the role of transport and industrial activities, topics covered under urbanisation and climate change in GS3.
Way Forward
Policy‑makers can consider the following actions:
- Enforce stricter bans on firecracker sales and use during festivals, coupled with public awareness campaigns.
- Promote cleaner transport (electric vehicles, stricter emission norms) to curb the rising share of vehicular emissions.
- Strengthen solid‑waste management to reduce waste‑burning contributions.
- Invest in real‑time monitoring and transparent reporting of AQI to guide citizen behaviour and emergency health measures.
Continued research by institutions like IITM will be essential for tracking the effectiveness of these interventions.