Now Reading: CPCB rejects under-reporting allegations on AQI data
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CPCB rejects under-reporting allegations on AQI data
The Story in Brief
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, attributed differences in AQI values between its platform and private apps to variations in measurement methods and 24-hour averages, rejecting allegations of under-reporting during and after Diwali. The board issued a statement on X after media reports raised concerns including a capping of AQI at 500 and data gaps at Delhi monitoring stations.
The CPCB explained that the National Air Quality Index (NAQI), introduced in 2015, uses a 24-hour rolling average to reflect sustained exposure, which may show lower values than private apps during short pollution peaks but higher readings once concentrations fall. It noted that particulate matter analysers calibrated for a 0-1,000 micrograms per cubic metre range can flag readings above that as out of range, causing occasional data gaps during extreme events like Diwali firecracker bursting.
The board stated it remains committed to transparent and scientific reporting and to continuous improvement of the monitoring network in consultation with experts.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All four outlets, Deccan Herald, Times Now, India Today and NDTV, carried the CPCB's statement as straight news, reproducing the board's explanation without independent scrutiny or opposition comment. The coverage is uniform: each outlet led with the rejection of under-reporting, quoted the same technical reasons, the 24-hour NAQI rolling average and the 0-1,000 micrograms per cubic metre calibrator range, and ended on the board's commitment to improvement. No outlet challenged the claim that data gaps are merely a byproduct of old instruments, and none cited independent experts to verify the methodology. The result is a one-sided account that leaves the core public trust question unexamined: whether a monitoring network whose analysers cannot record peak Diwali readings can still produce a reliable health advisory.
Coverage: 4 sources, 4 neutral
Sources (4): deccanherald.com (neutral report), timesnownews.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), ndtv.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 11 November 2026: this story now draws on 4 sources.
