According to the latest “Monthly Air Quality Snapshot” from Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), New Delhi ranked as the sixth most polluted city in India during October 2025, with a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 107 µg/m³ - nearly three times its September average of 36 µg/m³. 
The study highlights a sharp deterioration in air quality across the Indo‑Gangetic Plain (IGP), especially in the National Capital Region (NCR) where all ten of the country’s most polluted cities for the month were located. 
Interestingly, despite the spike in pollution, crop-stubble burning contributed less than 6 % of Delhi’s PM2.5 in October, according to the report, underscoring that year-round sources - such as vehicle emissions, construction dust and industrial activity - play a dominant role. 
Cities topping the list included Dharuhera (Haryana) at an average of 123 µg/m³, followed by Rohtak, Ghaziabad, Noida and Ballabgarh, all part of the NCR. 
The findings point to the inefficacy of short-term fixes like the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and call for long-term, sector-specific emission-cut strategies, rather than reactive seasonal measures. 

With winter and festive seasons ahead, the region faces a major public-health and policy challenge: addressing persistent pollution drivers before they culminate in severe smog episodes.