Delhi's winter pollution has returned, with a grey haze and smoky smell hanging over the city. The Delhi government's Winter Action Plan, launched earlier than in previous years, restricts older vehicles registered outside Delhi, dust-generating construction and private vehicle use, but experts say enforcement remains a concern and PM2.5 levels are often more than 25 times the WHO-recommended limit during pollution season.
Residents report eye irritation and difficulty breathing, while coughs and sneezes are heard everywhere. For those who can afford them, air purifiers have become a household necessity. Outdoors, people wear masks or cover their faces with cloth.
Delhi is among the places recording some of the world's highest pollution levels, and falling temperatures and slower winds trap pollutants close to the ground in winter. Vehicle and factory emissions, crop residue burning in neighbouring states and construction dust also contribute. The government's Winter Action Plan, running from 1 November to 28 February, was announced months before the worst smog arrived; in previous years, measures were often rolled out only after air quality got too bad to ignore. It restricts entry for older, more polluting vehicles registered outside Delhi, temporarily bans demolitions and outdoor construction work that generate dust, and discourages private vehicle use by asking offices to let half their employees work from home and doubling parking charges. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 2 restricts the use of diesel generators and the burning of coal and firewood.
Experts have praised the earlier planning but say the plan's success depends on enforcement. Parthaa Bosu of the Environmental Defense Fund said that "when it comes to execution, we probably still stand at the same level". Manoj Kumar from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air called for emission reduction targets across all sectors, not just vehicle entry, construction and stubble burning. Bosu also pointed to secondary pollutants and the burning of urban waste as under-addressed contributors.
Air pollution harms health. Dr Manoj Goel, a pulmonologist at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and affecting multiple organs. A 2025 report estimated that air pollution could cut life expectancy in Delhi by up to 8.2 years.
Teacher Meenu Rana keeps her windows closed and has added more indoor plants, but says her family commitments make leaving Delhi practically impossible. "It is unfair but we will have to live with it," she said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Delhi's winter pollution exacts a severe health and economic toll on millions of residents.
- The plan's success or failure will shape the government's credibility on environmental promises, a key campaign pledge.
- Chronic exposure to PM2.5 is linked to reduced life expectancy and widespread illness.
Background
Delhi has struggled with toxic winter smog for years. The problem peaks from November to February, when cooler temperatures trap pollutants and contributions from crop burning in neighbouring states intensify. Previous responses have often been reactive, with restrictions imposed only after air quality deteriorated. This year's Winter Action Plan was announced months in advance, an attempt to be proactive.
Tackling pollution was among the promises made by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during its election campaign last year, making the plan a major test of that commitment.
Key Perspectives
Parthaa Bosu (Environmental Defense Fund): Planning has improved but execution has not; secondary pollutants and urban waste burning remain under-addressed.
Manoj Kumar (Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air): The plan needs to set emission reduction targets for every sector, not just vehicle entry, construction and stubble burning.
Dr Manoj Goel (Fortis Memorial Research Institute): PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and affecting multiple organs.
Meenu Rana (Delhi resident): Feels trapped; cannot move out of the city because of her family's jobs and school, and sees no choice but to endure the pollution.
Delhi government: Has implemented the Winter Action Plan and GRAP restrictions, emphasising monitoring, enforcement and promotion of public transport and electric vehicles.
What to Watch
- How strictly the vehicle entry restrictions and other measures are enforced as pollution peaks.
- Whether the Air Quality Index triggers more severe GRAP stages, leading to further restrictions.
- Potential public protests and legal challenges as restrictions cause longer commutes and disrupt daily life.