Mumbai on Sunday recorded the first ‘Good’ air quality day of 2026, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 46. This is also the best AQI reading reported in the city since October 27, 2025, when it was recorded at 45, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This year, March has recorded no ‘Poor’ AQI days. The 29 days of March have seen AQI readings in the ‘Satisfactory’ category. In comparison, January 2026 recorded only eight ‘Satisfactory’ days, and February recorded seven ‘Satisfactory’ days.
On Sunday, all areas across Mumbai had AQI readings under 100, the best this year. Out of the 24 active AQI monitoring stations across Mumbai, 14 stations reported AQI in the ‘Good’ category, and 10 recorded AQI in the ‘Satisfactory’ category. The areas of Borivli, Malad, and Kandivli in the western suburbs had the best AQI readings on Sunday, followed by Sewri and Sion in the eastern suburbs. Even the bad AQI hotspots of BKC and Bandra East reported AQI in the ‘Good’ category on Sunday.
Best March since 2020
The month of March 2026, so far (29 days), has seen the best AQI for the month of March since 2020 as per data available with the CPCB, despite the lockdown due to COVID that started mid-March 2020.
2026 AQI snapshot
January 2026
Satisfactory: 8 days
Moderate: 23 days
Worst AQI: 140 on
January 4
Worst pollutant: PM10,
followed by NO2 and CO
February 2026
Satisfactory: 7 days
Moderate: 21 days
Worst AQI: 145 on February 21
Worst pollutant: PM10, followed by ozone
March 2026 (29 days)
Good: 1 day (AQI at 46 on Sunday)
Satisfactory: 23 days
Moderate: 5 days
Worst AQI: 127 on March 9
Worst pollutant: NO2, along with CO, and PM10
March AQI over the years…
2025
Satisfactory: 14 days
Moderate: 17 days
Worst AQI: March 11 (159)
2024
Satisfactory: 15 days
Moderate: 16 days
Worst AQI: March 22 (144)
2023
Satisfactory: 10 days
Moderate: 15 days
Poor: 6 days
Worst AQI: March 4 (281)
2022
Moderate: 25 days
Poor: 6 days
Worst AQI: March 2 (216)
2021
Satisfactory: 3 days
Moderate: 27 days
Poor: 1 day
Worst AQI: March 6 (211)
2020
Satisfactory: 15 days
Moderate: 16 days
Worst AQI: March 17 (197)
Areas with ‘Good’ AQI on Sunday
Borivali East: 21
Mindspace, Malad West: 28
Sion: 31
Sewri: 32
Kandivali West: 33
Siddharth Nagar, Worli: 35
Bandra Kurla Complex: 37
Khindipada, Bhandup West: 37
Chembur: 39
Kandivali East: 39
Ghatkopar: 43
Kherwadi, Bandra East: 44
Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl Airport T2: 49
Vile Parle West: 49
Areas with ‘Satisfactory’ AQI on Sunday
Worli: 87
Chakala, Andheri East: 72
Colaba: 66
Deonar: 66
Shivaji Nagar: 62
