Singapore’s air quality deteriorated to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 287, classified as unhealthy on a live air-quality dashboard, as smoke from Indonesian wildfires intensified across Southeast Asia. The reading showed PM2.5 concentrations of 116 micrograms per cubic metre and PM10 levels of 164 micrograms per cubic metre. Delhi, meanwhile, recorded an AQI of 165 at 9 am on Thursday, placing it in the moderate category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Singapore vs Delhi AQI: How do the pollution levels compare?
Singapore’s reported AQI was 122 points higher than Delhi’s reading on Thursday, 15 October. The air quality in India’s national capital was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category at 9 am, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 165, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
Under India’s CPCB classification, an AQI between 101 and 200 is moderate, while readings between 201 and 300 are considered poor.
Singapore’s live dashboard categorises its reading of 287 as unhealthy, reflecting differences in the terminology used by air-quality monitoring systems.
Singapore’s pollutant readings included carbon monoxide at 1,611 parts per billion (ppb), sulphur dioxide at 1 ppb, nitrogen dioxide at 2 ppb and ozone at 10 ppb.
View full Image
PM2.5 refers to fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. Because these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, prolonged exposure can pose health risks. PM10 includes larger airborne particles, which can also affect the respiratory system.
The two cities’ readings were recorded at different times and may follow different reporting systems. They therefore provide a snapshot of their respective pollution levels rather than a direct, simultaneous comparison.
Indonesian wildfires intensify haze across Southeast Asia
Singapore’s pollution spike comes as Indonesia experiences its most intense wildfire season in 11 years. Dry weather conditions linked to El Niño have contributed to the fires, worsening air quality across the region and raising concerns about respiratory illnesses.
East Timor announced a three-day suspension of face-to-face learning beginning Thursday, citing pollution from wildfires in neighbouring regions or countries. Although its government did not name Indonesia, East Timor shares an island with Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, where multiple fire hotspots have been reported.
Delhi’s winter pollution in numbers: AQI readings can exceed 1,000
Delhi’s winter pollution is not simply a seasonal spike. Government data show that the city’s average AQI in November reached 377 in 2021, 373 in 2023, 374 in 2024 and 354 in 2025. December’s average AQI was 351 in 2025, while January averaged 355 in 2024.
The scale of individual pollution episodes can be even more alarming: the Centre for Science and Environment recorded a city-wide winter PM2.5 peak of 732 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024, compared with 580 in 2023 and a station-level peak of 806 in winter 2018.
So how does Delhi’s AQI sometimes appear to cross 1,000? India’s official AQI scale is capped at 500, so a reading above 1,000 is not an official CPCB AQI figure. Such numbers can appear on international air-quality platforms using different calculation methods.
They should also not be confused with PM2.5 concentrations, which are measured in micrograms per cubic metre and can exceed 1,000 during extreme episodes.
Winter conditions, including weak winds and temperature inversions, can trap pollutants near the surface, while vehicle emissions, industry, construction dust, waste burning and crop-residue fires add to the pollution load.
Delhi Notifies Winter Pollution Master Plan
Delhi has introduced a permanent Winter Pollution Master Plan, with restrictions scheduled for the winter of 2026-27. The measures include a ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ rule, under which vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate will be denied fuel.
From November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will also be barred from entering the city, subject to specified exemptions.
The plan also calls for 50% work-from-home arrangements in government and private offices, staggered office timings and double parking charges at authorised municipal sites, with Delhi Metro parking facilities exempt.
Dust-generating construction and demolition activities will face restrictions from November, followed by a reported blanket ban from December 10, 2026, to January 20, 2027. The permanent framework is intended to make winter pollution controls an annual measure rather than a series of ad hoc orders.
Indonesia deploys more than 69,000 personnel
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has ordered additional resources to tackle the wildfires.
More than 69,000 firefighting personnel had been deployed, compared with around 44,000 in mid-September. Authorities are also testing specialised chemicals to improve firefighting operations.
About the Author
Livemint
For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world’s top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like – PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypolls, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Parliament, PMO, PIB, finance ministry, home ministry, among other union ministries and government departments. 4. National News: From metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and e to untapped stories from rural India, we cover human interest, health, education, crime and courts, and law and order, among other areas of public interest. 5. Economy: In-depth analysis of India’s macro and micro-economic indicators like- GDP, inflation, forex, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, interest rate cycle, economic recovery, RBI circulars, indirect taxes, GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy imports, exports and everything that impacts Indian economy. 6. Geopolitics: Well-rounded and deeply researched coverage on US News, Oval Office European Union, Ukraine Russia War, middle-east crisis, royal families and global leaders like – Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and premiers of other leading economies in the world. Meet the Team 1. Gulam Jeelani, Political Affairs Editor 2. Sugam Singhal, Senior Assistant Editor 3. Chanchal, Assistant Editor 4. Sanchari Ghosh, Chief Content Producer 5. Pratik Prashant Mukane, Chief Content Producer 6. Sayantani Biswas, Chief Content Producer 7. Ravi Hari, Deputy Chief Content Producer 8. Garvit Bhirani, Deputy Chief Content Producer 9. Akriti Anand, Senior Content Producer 10. Jocelyn Felix Fernandes, Senior Content Producer 11. Swastika Das Sharma, Content Producer 12. Mausam Jha, Content Producer 13. Riya R Alex, Trainee Content Producer
Discover more from PMN S.P.O.R.T.S - A PRIME MEDIA NETWORK BRAND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
