At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, parents protest as toxic air forces them to choose between health and school.

By Aniket Chakraborty Nov 21, 2025 Arrow INDIA NEWS

A mother asks: “Why must I choose between my son’s education and his right to breathe?”

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IQAir recorded Delhi’s AQI at 506, while CPCB showed 399 — both alarming, but different.

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Experts say both readings are correct because they rely on different data sources and methods.

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AQI is a public health tool summarising eight pollutants, including PM2.5 and PM10.

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The highest pollutant sub-index — usually PM2.5 — determines the overall AQI for the day.

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India caps AQI at 500, meaning anything above it is grouped as “severe” to avoid panic.

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WHO’s “safe” PM2.5 limit is 15 µg/m³; India’s is four times higher at 60 µg/m³.

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Low-cost sensors often show higher AQI than government stations due to broader data inclusion.

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Regardless of the number — 400 or 900 — experts warn Delhi’s air is hazardous and masks aren’t enough.

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