Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav Defends 'No Severe AQI' Remark Amidst Data Contradiction

In this exclusive interview, Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav addresses the controversy surrounding his statement in the Rajya Sabha regarding Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI). While Yadav claimed that the AQI did not breach the 450 mark in 2025, the interviewer presents Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showing an AQI of 461 on December 14. Defending his stance, Yadav clarifies, 'The day I gave this speech, till that day, I did not go over EQI 450,' attributing the subsequent spike to a 'western disturbance' and stagnant wind conditions. The Minister also discusses the 'growing outrage over the Aravalli Hills', the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), asserting that 27 cities are now free from air pollution.