In cities like Delhi, where winter smog routinely pushes the Air Quality Index (AQI) beyond 400, air purifiers are no longer a luxury but a household necessity. With pollution levels peaking due to vehicle emissions, construction dust, stubble burning, and seasonal fog, indoor air often becomes as harmful as the air outside. Air purifiers are compact devices designed to remove harmful pollutants from indoor air. Most modern units utilize True HEPA filters, which are capable of trapping up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.
These include PM2.5, dust, pollen, smoke particles, allergens, and even certain viruses. Most effective air purifiers rely on a combination of technologies HEPA Filters Capture fine particulate matter from traffic exhaust, industrial emissions and crop burning Activated Carbon Filters Absorb gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cooking, paints and cleaners UV-C, Plasma, or Ionisers Help neutralise bacteria, mold spores, and pathogens Smart Sensors Automatically adjust fan speed based on real-time indoor AQI readings Together, these layers ensure continuous and efficient purification. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) measures how quickly a purifier cleans the air. For a room of around 300 sq ft, experts recommend a CADR of 200 m³/h or higher for effective performance.
Following the exposé on fake Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government has suspended 28 PUC centres and blacklisted four others, including one in Gokulpuri.
The Centre has informed the Delhi High Court that there will be no urgent GST Council meeting to consider reducing the tax on air purifiers. Responding to a PIL seeking a GST cut from 18% to 5%, the government argued that air purifiers cannot be classified as medical devices by the GST Council, stating this falls under the Health Ministry's domain. The Centre termed the petition 'calculated and loaded'. The court was told that policy decisions cannot be directed by the judiciary.
In this news bulletin, the Centre informs the Delhi High Court that there will be no urgent GST Council meeting to consider reducing the tax on air purifiers. Responding to a PIL seeking a GST cut from 18% to 5%, the government argues that air purifiers cannot be classified as medical devices by the GST Council, stating this falls under the Health Ministry's domain. The Centre terms the petition 'calculated and loaded'. India Today's Anisha Mathur reports that the court has asked the Additional Solicitor General to convey the urgency to the council, noting that clean air is unaffordable for many. The next hearing is set for January 9.
This news report covers the dual crises impacting Delhi: severe air pollution and significant legal decisions. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted the health emergency, stating he falls ill from the pollution and acknowledging that vehicles contribute 40% of emissions. The environmental issue has direct economic consequences, as anti-pollution construction bans have left daily wage labourers in financial distress, with many alleging they have not received promised government relief. Further compounding the city's challenges, an investigation has exposed a fake PUC certificate scam. In a separate major development, the Delhi High Court suspended the life sentence of a convict in the Unnao gangrape case, a decision that has sparked a debate on the justice system and women's safety, drawing comments from activists and the mother of the Nirbhaya case victim.
In this Special Report, the focus is on the Delhi High Court's strong remarks regarding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air purifiers.
The Delhi High Court pulled up the Centre over the 18% GST on air purifiers and asked should Delhi stop breathing for 15 days?
On Day 8 of the IndiGo chaos, the Civil Aviation Ministry ordered a 5% reduction in IndiGo's winter schedule due to significant operational chaos and widespread flight cancellations.
Investigations are underway following a deadly fire at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Vagator, Goa, which claimed 25 lives. The club's owners, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, fled to Phuket, Thailand, hours after the incident. Authorities have uncovered illegalities, including construction on government land and a lack of fire safety permits, leading to the demolition of the associated Romeo Lane property. In a separate development, the Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered IndiGo to cut its winter schedule by 5% due to an operational meltdown. This action follows widespread chaos and flight cancellations attributed to the airline's failure to staff up after the implementation of new pilot rest regulations. Additionally, a new five-year study reveals that Delhi's evening commute causes severe lung damage due to high PM 2.5 levels, with experts recommending the use of high-grade HEPA filters in vehicles to mitigate health risks.
A new five-year study by Netaji Subhas University of Technology and AARC Engineers reveals that Delhi's evening commuters inhale 40% more PM 2.5 and 23% more PM 10 than morning travellers. Discussing the findings on India Today, engineering and public health researcher Devibhaktuni Srikrishna explains that 'rush hour time is the biggest factor' due to emission concentration. He advises using HEPA 13 filters and ensuring car air recirculation. Senior physician Dr. M. Wali highlights the overlooked danger of non-exhaust emissions, noting that 'car tires get worn off by 1.5 kg in three years', releasing micro-fine particles. The experts urge immediate government action as pollution becomes a year-round health emergency.
In a special report on India Today, a new five-year study reveals that Delhi's evening commute causes the worst lung damage of the year, with commuters inhaling 40% more PM 2.5 than in the morning. Engineering and public health researcher Dr. Srikrishnan Siva Subramanian explains that 'to replicate' clean air in cars, one needs 'about 20 to 40 cubic feet per minute of clean airflow' using HEPA 13 filters. Senior Consultant Dr. M. Wali warns that 'car tires also... bring out those smaller particles' and emphasizes that pollution is a continuous layer affecting everyone. The experts recommend N95 masks and proper car air purification as urgent measures.
A new five-year study reveals that the evening commute in Delhi delivers the 'worst lung damage of the entire year', surpassing even the winter smog season. The report highlights that evening commuters inhale about '40% more PM 2.5 and 23% more PM 10' compared to morning travellers. The transcript notes that air pollution accounted for 15% of all deaths in Delhi last year. The speaker emphasizes that while masks and purifiers are 'stopgap arrangements', the real need is to cut vehicular emissions. The segment also offers practical solutions for car owners, advising the use of the air circulation button and HEPA 13 filters to block toxic fumes like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. The programme underscores the urgency of treating pollution as a health emergency.
A new study from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) indicates a national air quality crisis in India, with 60% of districts now breathing toxic air.
Former Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi speaks on Delhi's severe air pollution crisis, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead a coordinated response similar to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Explaining her changed stance on the need for the Prime Minister's intervention, Bedi states, 'I had to be a sufferer, a victim, to get the pinch'. She suggests the formation of a group of ministers, including the Union Home Minister, to ensure enforcement that the current Commission for Air Quality Management lacks. Bedi calls the current crisis a 'desperate situation' and notes her personal experience as a Delhi resident for the past two and a half years prompted her to speak out, contrasting it with her time in Pondicherry in 2017 when she did not feel the direct impact of the pollution.
This report investigates the effectiveness of popular wearable air purifiers, examining the negative ion technology they claim pushes pollutants from the breathing zone. The analysis reviews company-provided research, including a test by IIT Kanpur, and features expert opinions from Dr. Anurag Agarwal, Dean of Biosciences and Health Research at Ashoka University, and Dr. Vivek Nangia from Max Hospital. Dr. Anurag Agarwal states, 'this device works better for larger particles like incense smoke, but the evidence is much weaker for typical urban pollution'. The bulletin concludes that these devices are not a substitute for N95 masks or HEPA filters and, at best, offer a supplementary layer of protection, urging viewers to trust science over social media advertising.
This bulletin from 5 Live investigates the radicalisation of educated professionals, focusing on the involvement of doctors in a recent Delhi terror blast. The programme also addresses India's severe air pollution crisis, featuring an exclusive interview with Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. Speaking on the urgency of the health emergency, Dr. Swaminathan says, 'we need to treat air pollution and attack air pollution like we attacked COVID'. The show further examines the psychology behind terrorism and includes a reality check on the effectiveness of wearable air purifiers, with insights from medical experts on whether these devices provide adequate protection against toxic air.
Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are battling hazardous air, forcing schools to shut down in an attempt to protect children. But is this the right solution?
