Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to a thick layer of smog on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 379 at 7 am, placing it firmly in the 'very poor' category. This follows a period of persistent severe air pollution in the region. Multiple monitoring stations within Delhi-NCR reported 'severe' air quality, with specific readings like Pandav Nagar at 445 and ITO at 414, indicating extremely hazardous conditions. Corroborating reports from various news outlets confirmed the dire air quality. The Economic Times and Zee News both reported an overall AQI of 397 at 7 am on Tuesday, also in the 'very poor' category. Monday's average AQI stood at 410 at 4 pm, a slight decrease from Sunday's 440. The Hindu, on January 19, 2026, noted a thick blanket of smog reducing visibility across Delhi-NCR. Authorities had already implemented Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday, January 17, 2026, after the AQI surpassed the 400-mark. This marked the worst January air quality spell in five years, with the last three-day severe pollution period in January occurring in 2021 from the 14th to the 16th. Reports also indicated that 25 out of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations registered 'severe' pollution levels on Monday. There's a ray of hope as rain is forecast for around January 23, which may offer some relief by helping to settle particulate matter in the air. However, concerns remain regarding the enforcement of anti-pollution measures, with a review by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revealing significant shortfalls in areas such as construction site inspections and mechanical road sweeping. Temperatures on Monday ranged from 7.7°C to 26.7°C, accompanied by moderate fog.