Supreme Court tightens pollution rules for Delhi-NCR

India Nov 20, 2025

The Supreme Court just made air pollution rules tougher for Delhi and nearby areas.
Now, emergency steps—like construction bans and traffic limits—will kick in sooner as air quality gets worse, with stricter actions starting at lower AQI levels than before.

Why should you care?

This means offices might go half-remote if pollution spikes, and outdoor school sports are paused for November and December.
The court also wants fair support for workers hit by these bans.
Chief Justice Gavai called out the need for a real, long-term plan to fix Delhi's air—not just quick fixes every winter—while making sure people's jobs aren't hurt in the process.
This push could finally mean cleaner air is taken seriously year-round.