Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
New Delhi, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Residents of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to toxic air on Monday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) falling to the "very poor" category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national Capital recorded an AQI of 335 at 8 am on Diwali morning after people burst crackers on the eve of the festival of lights, causing severe noise pollution and blanketing Delhi-NCR in smoke. The CPCB's forecast for the coming days in ...Read More >
Delhi AQI: As Diwali festivities began on Monday, Delhi's air quality crisis has deepened, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas to impose Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Sunday with immediate effect. As of 4 pm on Sunday, the national capital recorded an AQI of 296 according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, this was not the first day that the air quality in Delhi worsened, ...Read More >
Noida: The city's air quality slipped to 'very poor' at 329 on Sunday, a day before Diwali, against 293 in the 'poor' category a day prior. Greater Noida also noted a slight deterioration but air quality remained 'poor' with an AQI of 287 from Saturday's 248. Neighbouring Ghaziabad was worst off, remaining in the 'very poor' category on Sunday at 334 - a slight deterioration from 324 the previous day.Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI was recorded in the 'poor' category on Sunday at 296. Noida's station-wis ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The impact of additional emissions due to firecrackers on Diwali is likely to stay in the air through most of the week due to calm wind conditions, with no respite from extremely toxic air likely until at least Friday, weather analysts said.According to the forecast by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), further deterioration of air quality to the higher end of the 'very poor' category is expected by Diwali day, and to 'severe' levels by Tuesday."The air quality is very like ...Read More >
GUWAHATI The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, home to the most one-horned rhinos on earth, recorded 146 species in the latest bird survey, Assam's wildlife officials said on Sunday (October 19, 2025). The survey by the Assam Bird Monitoring Network in collaboration with the Kaziranga authorities was timed with Kati Bihu on Saturday. It was conducted across five key locations - Agoratoli, Gamiri, Panbari, and Panpur ranges of the national park and the adjoining Laokhowa Wildlife Sanct ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 19 (PTI) The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR as the city's air quality slipped into the "very poor" category, with the AQI crossing 300 mark. The move came after the Sub-Committee on GRAP on Saturday reviewed the worsening pollution levels and forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which warned of further deteriorati ...Read More >
Bathinda: Punjab recorded 33 incidents of stubble burning on Saturday -- the highest single-day count so far in the ongoing paddy harvesting season -- bringing the total number of farm fire cases to 241. Tarn Taran district reported the most cases, with 23 incidents in the last 24 hours.In comparison, the state had reported 1,348 cases by this date in 2024 and 1,407 in 2023, indicating a significant decline this season.Of the 241 cases reported till October 18, Tarn Taran accounted for 88, follo ...Read More >
AQI in Delhi today: Water sprinklers pressed into service as Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR turns 'severe' this morning. AQI in Delhi today: Delhi air quality worsens ahead of Diwali. The Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 274 at 6 am today, October 19, in central Delhi, while Anand Vihar stands at 418 in the 'severe' category. Water sprinklers were pressed into service as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR turned 'severe' this morning. Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorat ...Read More >
Delhi on Sunday (October 19, 2025) recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, 2.2 notches above the seasonal average, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Relative humidity stood at 71% at 8:30 a.m. The IMD has forecast mainly clear skies during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 33 degrees Celsius. Delhi's air remains 'poor' for fifth straight day, nine stations in red zone ahead of Deepavali Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'p ...Read More >
Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district will reopen for tourists from October 18, an official said here on Wednesday. The tiger reserve was closed for tourists from June 30 due to the monsoon, the STR official said. According to the notification issued by STR Field Director Prakash Chand Gogineni, a maximum of 60 vehicles will be allowed inside the national park daily. Maximum 35 vehicles will be allowed from Jashipur checkgate, while 25 vehicles will enter the STR through ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) Chairman Dr P Krishnaiah has appealed to the public to celebrate the Diwali festival with 'green crackers' avoiding noise and air pollution. In a press release on Saturday, Krishnaiah urged the firecracker manufacturers and sellers to manufacture and sell eco-friendly crackers, and requested public cooperation to make the festival celebration free from air pollution and safe. The APPCB has already issued a circular to all district colle ...Read More >
Noida: The district administration has directed all departments to intensify surveillance and act strictly against stubble burning and garbage fires -- two major contributors to local pollution, officials informed on Saturday. The directions come amid the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR). District officials have been asked to maintain round-the-clock monitoring in both rural and urban pockets, ensure rapid response teams remain active, and impose fines on individu ...Read More >
Gurgaon: The city's air quality showed a slight improvement on Saturday, with the air quality index (AQI) settling at 258, compared to 266 the previous day. While the average reading remained in the 'poor' category, several neighbourhoods continued to record alarming levels of pollution, led once again by Sector 51, where the AQI was 'very poor' agian at 333.Data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that NISE Gwal Pahari registered a relatively better AQI at 194, while Vikas Sadan ...Read More >
New Delhi: Supreme Court's move to ease the ban on firecrackers is largely seen as a festive allowance, but some Delhiites are planning to illuminate homes and hearts, not skies. They plan to replace fireworks with earthen lamps, lanterns and shared meals at community gatherings.The shift from smoke to light, which reflects a growing awareness that Diwali joy needn't be at the cost of the city's air and its residents' health, is palpable in several neighbourhoods. Locals in Greater Kailash-II ha ...Read More >
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 18 (MExN): The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, has issued an advisory cautioning citizens against the use of banned firecrackers during the upcoming festive season and appealed to all residents to celebrate in an eco-friendly and responsible manner. The advisory stated that bursting of firecrackers is not only environmentally hazardous but also causes significant stress, fear, and other health-related issues in both humans and animals due to loud explosions and toxic gases. A ...Read More >
Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 389. (File) New Delhi: Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate on Saturday, remaining in the "poor" category for the fifth consecutive day, with nine monitoring stations falling in the red zone of the "very poor" category as pollution levels spiked ahead of Diwali. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 268 at 4 pm, placing it in the "poor" category. Within the NCR regio ...Read More >
Guwahati: Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora officially inaugurated the 2025-26 tourism season at Kaziranga National Park on Saturday, marking the opening of the Agaratoli Range for visitors. Alongside the tourism launch, Bora also unveiled a new weaving unit designed to support women and young girls in the region. "I am happy to declare the Agaratoli Range open for visitors for the 2025-26 tourism season. Alongside, the newly established weaving unit will give a new commercial dimension to Muga ...Read More >
Guwahati: The Agoratoli range of the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) officially reopened to the public on Saturday, marking the beginning of Kaziranga's new tourism calendar. The occasion also saw the inauguration of a 'meteka loom' -- a community-led initiative aimed at transforming invasive water hyacinth into sustainable handicrafts.According to park officials, the newly launched meteka loom at the Agoratoli community hall represents a sign ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Sector 51 was the most polluted part of the city with its air quality plunging into the 'very poor' zone on Friday. The monitoring station there recorded an AQI of 342, the worst in the city. Gurgaon's overall air quality deteriorated slightly to 266, up from 260 the previous day.According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Vikas Sadan station reported an AQI of 212 and NISE Gwalpahari logged 238, both in the 'poor' range. The stark difference across neighbourhoods ...Read More >
Noida: For the second day in a row, Ghaziabad recorded very poor air quality, which was also the worst in the country, even as Noida and Greater Noida breathed marginally better. On Friday, Ghaziabad's AQI was recorded at 306, showing no improvement from 307 logged a day ago. In Loni, located along the Delhi border and home to nearly 450 industrial units, AQI tipped towards the severe range at 350 at 4pm. The area was among the six pollution hotspots -- along with Sahibabad, Raj Nagar Extension, ...Read More >
Delhi's air quality index (AQI) remained in the "poor" category for a fourth consecutive day on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB's) daily bulletin. Forecasts suggest that air quality may further deteriorate over the next few days. On Friday, the 24-hour average AQI was 254 (poor), continuing the "poor" air streak of 245 on Thursday, 233 on Wednesday and 211 on Tuesday. Before that, Delhi had been enjoying a continuous streak of "moderate" and "satisfactory" air d ...Read More >
Lucknow: State minister Arun Kumar Saxena on Friday urged people to use only green crackers this Diwali for a pollution-free festival."On Diwali, use only green crackers developed and approved by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), because they contain very little or no amount of harmful chemicals like barium, potassium, nitrate, sulphur and aluminium compared to the traditional ones, and also cause very little noise and air pollution," said the minister of state for enviro ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The capital is raring for Diwali celebrations this weekend. The permission for bursting green firecrackers, this Diwali, has added zing to the excitement and festive mood. However, the dipping air quality ahead of the festival is threatening to play spoiler. Air quality in the capital as well as the National Capital Region (NCR) has fallen to the 'very poor' category, creating concerns for both the public and the administration. According to the Central Pollu ...Read More >
MUMBAI: As Mumbai's air quality dips following the monsoon season, environmentalists warn that the five-day Diwali festival could push pollution levels higher. Every year, the city's air and noise readings spike after fireworks, prompting debate over the use of green crackers- the supposedly less polluting alternative. In order to understand what they are, how they differ from traditional fireworks, and how citizens can celebrate responsibly, HT spoke with Sumaira Abdulali, crusader against pol ...Read More >
New Delhi: An 11-year-old female hyena died at the Delhi Zoo on Thursday under "mysterious" circumstances, zoo officials said, stating a post-mortem examination will be conducted to ascertain the actual cause of death. The zoo is now left with only two hyenas, a male and a female. The hyena was found lying in its den -- within the enclosure. The body was retrieved and sent to the zoo hospital, where it was discovered that she had already died. Typically, hyenas stay inside dens created in the e ...Read More >
Mysuru: A report prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India, under Project Elephant of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, has issued a serious warning to the Karnataka forest department about a growing threat to the state's elephant habitats. As per the 'Status of Elephants in India: DNA Based Synchronous All India Population Estimation of Elephants (SAIEE) 2021-25' report, the once-contiguous elephant populations of the Western Ghats are rapidly becoming disconnected ...Read More >
Gurgaon: The district administration has rolled back its blanket ban on firecrackers, opting instead to allow the sale and use of only green crackers for a limited period during Diwali.The move comes a day after the administration's initial prohibition -- prompted by the need to comply with the Supreme Court's guidelines, which permit only certified green crackers in NCR.On Thursday, deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar announced the amended order, specifying that green crackers certified by NEERI (Na ...Read More >
Chennai: This Diwali, only green crackers using formulations approved by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) are permitted. These have smaller shells and reduced chemical content, a move expected to have a significant impact on both air quality and noise levels. However, some quantities of regular crackers still find their way into the market, as experts say enforcement remains patchy.As per a Supreme Court order, only eco-friendly green firecrackers are permitted ...Read More >
New Delhi: An 11-year-old female hyena died at the Delhi zoo on Thursday. Officials said a postmortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death. The zoo now has two hyenas left. The hyena was found dead inside its den within the enclosure. The body was taken to the zoo hospital, where it was confirmed that the animal was already dead. Normally, hyenas rest inside the dens built within the enclosure but feed in the rear section, where the zoo staff work. Delhi zoo, which has been shut sin ...Read More >
New Delhi: As the festive season approaches, so does India's recurring debate, whether "green crackers" can really make Diwali celebrations less polluting. In light of worsening winter smog and continued firecracker prohibitions, let's ask the very straightforward and approachable question: What are green crackers, and how do they compare and relate to conventional fireworks? Green crackers are a newer, advanced generation of firecrackers, developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial R ...Read More >
From the alarming rise in Himalayan glacier melt impacting water security to the devastating cyclones battering coastal communities, India's environmental challenges demand urgent attention. Climate change, deforestation, and air pollution are no longer distant threats; they are daily realities shaping lives across the nation. We track crucial developments in environmental policy, highlighting government initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme and examining the impact of sustainable agriculture practices. Explore our coverage of biodiversity conservation efforts, the growing renewable energy sector, and the crucial role of citizen activism in environmental protection. Understand the intricate web connecting environmental degradation and socio-economic disparities, and discover how India is navigating the complexities of a changing climate. Stay informed, stay engaged, and become part of the solution. Explore the latest environmental news and analysis now.