Delhi continues to choke under a toxic, “very poor” Air Quality Index (AQI) as winter pollution slams the national capital.
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The government announced a tough new, immediate anti-pollution measure: No Pollution Certificate, No Fuel at the pump starting Thursday.
Let’s be real. Delhi’s overall AQI hit 378 early Tuesday morning, confirming the city is still far from breathing easy.
This “no fuel” rule is the government’s major effort to enforce compliance under the harsh GRAP-IV curbs and clear the air.
Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill
The Breakdown: The New Mandate
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa delivered the ultimatum on Tuesday, December 16, 2025:5
| Measure | Date of Enforcement | Penalty/Effect |
| No Fuel Rule | Thursday, December 18 | Vehicle owners without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at all petrol pumps. |
| Grace Period | Ends Wednesday, December 17 | Vehicle owners have until tomorrow to get their PUCC compliance in order. |
| Monitoring | Ongoing | Compliance will be monitored through camera-based systems at petrol pumps. |
The Political Fight: The AQI Blame Game
The thing is, even as strict measures are announced, the political blame game over the severe pollution is at full throttle.
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Minister Sirsa apologized to Delhi residents for the pollution but immediately pointed the finger at the previous administration:6
“It is impossible for any elected government to reduce AQI in 9-10 months.7 I apologise for the pollution in Delhi. We are doing better work than the dishonest AAP government… This disease of pollution is given to us by the Aam Aadmi Party, and we are working to fix it.”
The Minister is trying to manage expectations while simultaneously claiming that the current government is reducing AQI each day, arguing the pollution is a “disease” inherited from the Aam Aadmi Party.
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AQI Across India
While Delhi reels in the ‘very poor’ category, air quality levels across other major Indian cities show significant variance:
| City | AQI Level | Category |
| Delhi | 378 | Very Poor |
| Ahmedabad | 117 | Moderate |
| Bengaluru | 104 | Moderate |
| Chennai | 135 | Moderate |
| Hyderabad | 103 | Moderate |
| Mumbai | 109 | Moderate |
| Patna | 156 | Moderate |
| Pune | 194 | Moderate |
Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has begun work, holding the first meeting of its Expert Committee on vehicular emissions to try and address the root causes of the NCR’s crisis.
But for drivers in Delhi, the immediate mandate is clear: get your PUCC, or go home running on fumes……
Also Read | UP Weather: Dense fog alert for next two days, cold wave to increase chill
End. . .
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