Hundreds of Delhi residents took to the streets on Sunday to protest the worsening air quality in India’s capital and its surrounding areas. The demonstration, which saw participants of all ages, including children, was marked by banners and slogans urging the government to declare a health emergency and implement effective measures to curb pollution. The protest, held near the iconic India Gate, resulted in the brief detention of around 80 individuals by the police, who cited the lack of permission for the gathering. This was the first major protest on air pollution in Delhi in recent times, highlighting the severity of the issue. Air quality in Delhi has been consistently poor, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering between 300 and 400 over the past three weeks, nearly 20-30 times the acceptable limit set by the World Health Organization. The situation is exacerbated in winter due to crop stubble burning in neighboring states and low wind speeds that trap pollutants close to the ground. Protesters, including environmental activists, opposition leaders, and university students, criticized the government’s inadequate response, particularly the delayed implementation of the third level of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which would impose stricter measures to combat pollution. Delhi’s environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, defended the government’s efforts, citing measures such as the installation of anti-smog guns, dust mitigation through water sprinklers, and the increase in electric vehicles in the public bus fleet. However, protesters remain unconvinced, calling for more serious and immediate action to address the crisis.