Delhi’s air pollution forecasting system could predict “very poor and above” air quality days with more than 80 per cent accuracy in the last two winters, according to a new study published on Wednesday.

The study by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) said the city’s Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) successfully forecast 83 out of 92 “very poor and above” episodes (air quality index above 300) in winter 2023-24, and 54 out of 58 such days in 2024-25.

The system also improved in predicting the severe pollution days (AQI above 400). While it managed to correctly flag just one out of 15 such days in 2023–24, the number jumped to five out of 14 in the following winter.

“The high accuracy of Delhi’s early warning systems is a positive sign. Updated emission inventories c

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