Protesters rallied at India Gate as New Delhi was enveloped in heavy smog, with the city’s AQI rising above 350 and some areas topping 400. Demonstrators demanded urgent action while police detained and dispersed some attendees. Officials cite seasonal crop-burning smoke, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions as primary drivers; existing measures — including an emergency pollution plan and subsidies to curb stubble burning — have had limited impact. Political leaders traded criticism and assurances as health risks mounted.
Protesters Demand Action as Deadly Smog Chokes New Delhi
Protesters rallied at India Gate as New Delhi was enveloped in heavy smog, with the city’s AQI rising above 350 and some areas topping 400. Demonstrators demanded urgent action while police detained and dispersed some attendees. Officials cite seasonal crop-burning smoke, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions as primary drivers; existing measures — including an emergency pollution plan and subsidies to curb stubble burning — have had limited impact. Political leaders traded criticism and assurances as health risks mounted.
06:01 PM, 11/10/2025Environment
Protesters Call for Action as New Delhi Suffocates Under Winter Smog
Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the India Gate memorial on Sunday to demand urgent government action after New Delhi was engulfed in a dense layer of smog. The annual deterioration of air quality in the capital has again reached harmful levels, prompting rare public protests.
Protesters carried placards, chanted slogans and, in some cases, disrupted traffic. Police moved some demonstrators onto buses and dispersed others from the site.
Air Quality Alarms
By Monday morning, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had risen above 350, classified as "very poor" by India’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several neighbourhoods recorded AQI readings above 400, which falls into the "severe" category. For reference, AQI values below 100 are considered good or satisfactory.
International monitor IQAir lists New Delhi as the most polluted national capital in the world and notes that India holds six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities and 13 of the top 20.
Causes and Health Impact
Air quality in New Delhi typically worsens each winter. Smoke from farmers burning crop residues in neighbouring states drifts into the capital and becomes trapped near the ground as temperatures fall. When this smoke mixes with vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, the resulting smog significantly worsens respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and is linked to thousands of premature deaths annually.
Efforts and Limitations
Authorities operate a tiered emergency response that, at high pollution levels, can restrict construction, ban diesel generators and limit vehicle entry. The government has also introduced subsidies and incentives intended to reduce crop burning, but results have so far been limited.
Last month’s cloud-seeding operation failed to produce meaningful rain or reduce pollution levels.
"The right to clean air is a basic human right," wrote Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, criticizing the treatment of protesters. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, environment minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said the government "will continue every possible effort" to prevent pollution.
The situation highlights the recurring challenge of coordinating regional agricultural practices, urban emissions controls and emergency measures to protect public health during the cold season.