Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Dhanteras morning, Friday 6 November. The city’s overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 389 at 8 AM, in the “very poor” band. That is 20 points worse than Thursday’s 24-hour average of 369.
Updated: 6 November 2026, 10:30 AM IST
Quick Read
- Delhi’s AQI was 389 at 8 AM on 6 November — very poor, up from 369 on Thursday.
- Jahangirpuri recorded 460, in the severe band. Around 28 monitoring stations were already severe in the morning, as per CPCB data.
- The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts severe air from 6 to 8 November. Green crackers may be burst only on 7 and 8 November, in two short slots each day.
Jahangirpuri logged 460 at 8 AM, deep in the severe band, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data carried by Business Today. IGI Airport, Dwarka Sector 8, ITO, Sirifort, RK Puram and Patparganj also logged severe air.
At 3 AM, the IITM’s early-warning system recorded 459 in Jahangirpuri, 451 at Delhi Technological University, 429 in Alipur and 424 in Bawana. ITO stood at 420, Anand Vihar at 353 and Badarpur at 351.
Four days of very poor air, and getting worse
Thursday was the fourth straight day of very poor air. The 24-hour average was 369 at 4 PM, a touch lower than Wednesday’s 377, but 18 of 59 stations still recorded severe air. By 10 PM, that count had risen to 22.
Jahangirpuri and Punjabi Bagh recorded the worst air on Thursday, at 456 each, followed by Rohini at 450 and IIT Delhi at 449, as per The Tribune.
| Day | Delhi average AQI |
|---|---|
| Monday | 324 |
| Tuesday | 350 |
| Wednesday | 377 |
| Thursday (4 PM) | 369 |
| Friday (8 AM) | 389 |
That is a rise of 65 points since Monday, or about 20%. On the AQI scale, 301–400 is very poor and 401–500 is severe — at 389, Delhi sits just 12 points short of severe.
One honest flag: The Economic Times’ station table for Friday lists Jahangirpuri at 256 and most stations in the moderate band. That clashes with the CPCB figures in Business Today, Outlook and The Tribune, which all put Jahangirpuri near 460. We have used the figures that agree across three reports and named the odd one out.
Also read: Delhi AQI November 5: India Gate 399, Jahangirpuri 459 — very poor
Severe air forecast till 8 November
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, forecasts severe air from Friday to Sunday, 6 to 8 November. Its six-day outlook keeps Delhi between severe and very poor. Slow winds and falling night temperatures are trapping dust and smoke close to the ground, as per CPCB readings through the week.
GRAP Stage 2 curbs stay in force in the capital, as per Republic World’s report of 6 November. Stage 2 is the second rung of the Graded Response Action Plan, Delhi’s set of emergency steps as air worsens.
Diwali falls on 8 November this year, right inside the severe-air window — the festival brings smoke at the exact hour the air is at its worst.
Green crackers: only 7 and 8 November, two slots a day
The Supreme Court’s order of 29 October 2026 allows only CSIR-NEERI-approved green crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, and only on 7 and 8 November. Bursting is allowed between 6 AM and 7 AM, and between 8 PM and 10 PM, on both days. That is three hours a day, six hours in all.
Sale of approved green crackers ran only from 4 to 6 November, at sites fixed by district officials. Online sale is banned. Each sealed box must carry a QR code for its product and batch. Crackers joined in a series (ladis), crackers with barium, and any conventional cracker are out.
No crackers may be burst within 300 metres of hospitals, nursing homes, health centres, old-age homes, schools and notified silence zones. The full ban returns on 9 November 2026. Pollution boards must file daily air-quality reports for 2–6, 7–8 and 9–30 November, and the court will hear compliance next on 16 December.
Also read: Delhi green firecrackers: November 7–8 rules, timings, QR check
What to do today
Morning and late evening are the worst hours, when smoke and dust hang low in cool, still air. If you must step out early, wear an N95 mask. It filters the fine PM2.5 dust that drives the AQI up.
Keep windows shut in the early hours and let fresh air in around midday. People with asthma, heart trouble or small children at home should stay indoors as much as they can till the weekend passes.
Dhanteras shoppers should plan for the smog, not just the crowds: finish outdoor work early, and keep cracker bursting for the two legal slots on 7 and 8 November.
Also read: Delhi Smog 2026: AQI Above 200 — Protect Your Family This Winter
FAQ
Q: What is Delhi’s AQI today, 6 November 2026?
A: Delhi’s overall AQI was 389 at 8 AM on 6 November, in the very poor band, as per CPCB data. That is up from Thursday’s 24-hour average of 369. Jahangirpuri recorded 460, in the severe band.
Q: Will Delhi’s air turn severe during Diwali?
A: Yes, the Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts severe air from 6 to 8 November, covering the Diwali weekend. Its six-day outlook keeps Delhi between severe and very poor. GRAP Stage 2 curbs stay in force.
Q: When can green crackers be burst in Delhi for Diwali 2026?
A: Only on 7 and 8 November, between 6 AM and 7 AM and between 8 PM and 10 PM, as per the Supreme Court order of 29 October 2026. Only CSIR-NEERI-approved green crackers with a QR code are allowed. The full ban returns on 9 November.
Sources
- Business Today — Delhi pollution: AQI hits 389 on Dhanteras morning (6 Nov 2026) — 200 verified; CPCB 8 AM figures, 28 stations severe, Jahangirpuri 460
- Outlook — Delhi chokes on very poor air for fourth day (6 Nov 2026) — 200 verified; 3 AM station readings, AQEWS severe forecast 6–8 Nov
- The Tribune — Delhi’s air deteriorates for 4th straight day (6 Nov 2026) — 200 verified; Thursday station highs, week trend 324 → 377
- Bar & Bench — Supreme Court allows bursting of green crackers on Nov 7 and 8 (2 Nov 2026) — 200 verified; 6–7 AM and 8–10 PM slots, 300-metre zones, ban back 9 Nov
Sasanka Sekhar Pradhan is the founder of India Presents, an India-focused news site. He covers daily box-office trackers, India news, economy explainers, sports previews and festival guides — in simple English, so readers across India can follow fast-moving stories without jargon. His focus is what a story means for the reader: the number that matters, the source behind it, and what happens next. India Presents publishes daily, with day-trackers updated as new figures come in.
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