Delhi's air quality has not been consistently clean

A social media post claimed that Delhi experienced clean air for the first time in three years, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 85. This claim was shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi and gained over seven lakh views. However, the claim is misleading. While the AQI reached 85 on March 15, 2025, Delhi has seen satisfactory air quality (AQI below 100) several times in the last three years. Reports confirm that there were multiple instances of the AQI being below 100 during this period. On March 15, the Indian Express reported that this AQI of 85 was the lowest for the January to March period in three years. The improvement was attributed to better meteorological conditions, including favorable winds and light rain. Furthermore, comparison data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that Delhi had AQI levels below 100 on several days in 2024, including a reading of 76 on September 29, 2024. The claim lacks specifics, causing confusion. Though Delhi did see an improvement in air quality in early 2025, it is not accurate to say it was the first instance of clean air in three years. Thus, the overall claim is considered misleading.