Delhi AQI Today November 20, 2025: Live Updates from 40+ Stations, GRAP-3 Restrictions Continue, Schools in Hybrid Mode & Relatively Safer Areas in NCR

Updated: November 20, 2025 | 11:30 AM IST

Delhi’s air quality remains firmly in the Severe category for the second consecutive day, with the 24-hour average AQI hovering between 410–430 (Severe) as per latest CPCB and independent monitoring data. Calm winds, low mixing height, and continued intrusion of smoke from farm fires have kept pollutants trapped, pushing PM2.5 levels dangerously high across the capital.

Current Delhi AQI Overview (November 20, 2025)

• - City-wide 24-hour Average AQI: ~418 (Severe) (CPCB Sameer App / real-time aggregators)
• - Primary Pollutant: PM2.5 (250–380 µg/m³ in most locations)
• - Worst-affected stations (morning readings):
  •   -- Anand Vihar: 458+
  •   -- Wazirpur: 445+
  •   -- Jahangirpuri: 440+
  •   -- Punjabi Bagh: 438
  •   -- RK Puram: 422
  • - Some pockets in northeast & northwest Delhi touching Severe+ (450+) overnight

Forecast: Severe conditions likely to persist through November 21–22 unless significant wind speed picks up or rain arrives.

GRAP-3 Restrictions Continue (November 20 Update):

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has kept Stage-3 of GRAP in force across the entire Delhi-NCR. No invocation of Stage-4 yet, despite occasional local spikes.

Active GRAP-3 Measures:

• - Complete ban on non-essential construction & demolition
• - Ban on BS-III petrol & BS-IV diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Delhi & bordering NCR districts
• - Restrictions on diesel generator sets (except emergency services)
• - Intensified mechanical sweeping, water sprinkling & anti-smog gun deployment
• - Daily review for possible escalation to GRAP-4 if city-wide AQI sustains >450
  
  

Schools & Education Update (November 20, 2025)

• - No blanket school closure announced for today.
  - Hybrid learning mode continues for Classes up to 5 (and in many schools up to Class 9/12 as precautionary measure) across Delhi and NCR cities (Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad).
• - Outdoor sports, morning assemblies & physical activities remain suspended.
• - Parents are advised to monitor school-specific circulars – several institutions have shifted younger classes fully online due to local AQI spikes.

- Relatively Safer / Least Polluted Areas in Delhi-NCR Today (AQI <370, still Very Poor–Severe)

Even the “better” pockets are unhealthy today, but these consistently record lower readings due to greenery and location:

1. 1. Lodhi Road / India Gate vicinity – ~330–360
2. 2. Aya Nagar (South Delhi) – ~340–365
3. 3. Sri Aurobindo Marg near IIT Delhi – ~335–370
4. 4. Delhi University North Campus – ~350–375
5. 5. IGI Airport Terminal 3 area – ~345–380
   
   

Avoid: Northeast Delhi (Anand Vihar, Sonia Vihar), Northwest (Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur, Bawana), and industrial zones (Mundka, Narela).

Health Advisory for November 20

• - Minimise outdoor exposure; keep windows/doors closed
• - Use N95/N99 masks if venturing out
• - Sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory/heart conditions): Strictly avoid outdoors; run air purifiers on high
• - Watch for irritation in eyes/throat, shortness of breath – seek medical help if symptoms worsen
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## Stay tuned – an evening review could trigger stricter measures if the average crosses 450 sustainably.

Also Read (Related Articles): Delhi Air Pollution 2025: Why November is Always the Worst Month & What Actually Works

Sources: CPCB Sameer App, AQI.in, aqicn.org, CAQM orders, DoE circulars & leading news outlets (as of November 20 morning).