I would ask you all how the weather is treating you, but, unfortunately, it’s firecracker season, so I’m not going to bother with that question.

The data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) tells a story that every Delhiite has been living. It translates air pollution into its most personal cost—our time. The numbers show that, on average, air pollution reduces the life expectancy of an Indian citizen by several years. But for those of us in Delhi, the picture is even more stark.

While there has been some fluctuation and even slight improvement in recent years—with the figure dropping from a high of nearly 9.75 years of life expectancy lost in 2018 to 7.81 years in 2024—the reality remains grim. Even with this progress, the latest data indicates a worrying potential rebound, with pro

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