Delhi's air turns cleaner as BRICS leaders gather, AQI drops to 62
Delhi recorded an AQI of 62 on September 12 as rain and cloudy monsoon weather cleared pollutants during the BRICS Summit.
Delhi's air quality improved markedly as the capital hosted world leaders for the BRICS Summit this weekend, with the city's lowest air quality index reading on September 12 touching 62, placing it in the moderate category.
The cleaner spell coincided with the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders for the two-day gathering, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
The improvement stands out against conditions earlier in the week. Delhi's official AQI stood at 133 on September 10, also moderate, before climbing to 155 in the early hours of Friday, September 11.
Weather does the cleaning
The primary driver appears to be the weather. The capital has seen rainfall and overcast skies in recent days as an active monsoon spell continues over the region. The India Meteorological Department had forecast generally cloudy conditions with moderate rain in Delhi on September 12, and wet weather is expected to persist.
Rain helps clear the air by capturing dust and other suspended particles as droplets fall, lowering the concentration of airborne pollutants. Shifts in wind patterns and atmospheric conditions can further disperse pollutants, keeping them from settling near the surface.
The spell is linked to a wider monsoon system, with a low-pressure area over the northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal influencing rainfall across parts of northern and central India, including Delhi.
Summit agenda and declaration
The BRICS meeting, hosted by India this year, brings together the 11-nation bloc. Discussions are expected to be dominated by the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global trade turbulence and energy security.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the grouping had adopted a joint declaration by consensus, announced at the end of the opening day's deliberations. The New Delhi Declaration stresses collective efforts on global governance reform and conflict prevention, and rejects unilateral economic sanctions.
Modi was also seen shaking hands with Xi Jinping at the close of the inaugural session.