Over 50% of parents seek November 10-15 break as Delhi-NCR chokes at AQI 555

Delhi-NCR's air quality has crossed another alarming threshold, but schools across the region continue to operate as usual. With the average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 555 on November 4, parents are now asking authorities to take a decision before the post-Diwali pollution peak arrives.

More than one in two parents surveyed want Delhi and all National Capital Region (NCR) administrations to announce a common school smog break from November 10 to 15 in advance. Another 47% want schools to shut only if air quality reaches the severe category or crosses a defined threshold.

The findings come from a LocalCircles survey that received over 38,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. The message is clear: parents do not want children to continue attending physical classes through the worst days of the smog season.

AQI AT 555, BUT SCHOOLS CONTINUE AS USUAL

The scale of the pollution explains the growing concern. On November 4, Delhi-NCR recorded an average AQI of 555, with average PM2.5 levels at 450 micrograms per cubic metre and PM10 levels at 215, according to the survey report.

For perspective, India's 24-hour safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre, while the World Health Organisation's guideline is 15.

Children are particularly vulnerable to prolonged exposure to polluted air. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults. Their daily school commute, outdoor assemblies and sports periods can add to their exposure.

The report also cites a Central Pollution Control Board study conducted with the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, which examined 11,628 schoolchildren across 36 Delhi schools and compared them with 4,536 children in rural areas.

It found that 43.5% of children in Delhi had reduced lung function, compared with 25.7% in rural areas. Respiratory symptoms were also more common among Delhi's children.

53% WANT AUTHORITIES TO ANNOUNCE A BREAK IN ADVANCE

The LocalCircles survey asked parents whether administrations across Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad should proactively announce a common school smog break from November 10 to 15, 2026.

Of the 19,294 parents who responded to this question, 53% supported announcing the break in advance. The remaining 47% said a break should be announced only if pollution reaches the severe category or crosses a defined threshold.

Interestingly, not a single respondent wanted schools to remain open unless authorities ordered a closure based on actual conditions. No respondent was unsure.

This suggests that the disagreement is not about whether children need protection, but about when authorities should act. While some parents want a fixed calendar-based break, others prefer a decision linked to pollution levels.

49% WANT ONLINE CLASSES, 25% PREFER COMPLETE SCHOOL CLOSURE

Parents are also divided over what schools should do during the proposed six-day break.

When asked how schools should function between November 10 and 15, 49% of the 19,566 respondents wanted physical classes suspended and online classes conducted. Another 25% preferred schools to remain completely closed, without online lessons.

Meanwhile, 13% wanted online classes to be available as an option without compulsory attendance. Another 13% said schools should remain open unless pollution reaches the severe category, after which classes should move online.

Put together, 74% of parents want physical classes suspended during the proposed break, while 62% want online learning to continue in some form.

The findings indicate that most parents are not necessarily asking for teaching to stop. They want children to stay away from polluted outdoor environments while continuing their education where possible.

WHY NOVEMBER 10-15 COULD BE A CRUCIAL WINDOW

The proposed break comes at a time when Delhi-NCR is expected to face another spell of worsening air quality.

Diwali falls on November 8 this year, while stubble burning incidents in Punjab have also increased. The state recorded 1,612 such incidents by November 2, compared with 542 by October 23.

The survey report states that the contribution of stubble smoke to Delhi's pollution rose from 1.5% on October 27 to around 18.5% on November 1. It stood at 15.3% on November 3.

The overlap between post-Diwali emissions and the seasonal increase in farm fires could make the second week of November particularly challenging.

There is also an existing precedent for planning around this period. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed government and private offices in several NCR districts to operate with no more than 50% physical attendance between November 5 and 20, with the remaining employees working from home.

However, the order does not include schools.

PARENTS WANT A COMMON DECISION, NOT LAST-MINUTE ORDERS

One of the biggest concerns raised in the report is the absence of a common school-closure policy across Delhi-NCR. Decisions currently depend on separate authorities, including the Directorate of Education in Delhi and district administrations in neighbouring cities.

This has often resulted in different school schedules across the region, even when cities are experiencing similar pollution levels.

Previous winters offer examples of last-minute interventions. In November 2023, Delhi advanced its winter vacation to November 9-18 after air quality deteriorated. In November 2024, the Supreme Court intervened to suspend physical classes up to Class 12 across Delhi-NCR. In November 2025, Delhi shifted classes up to Class 5 to hybrid mode after the AQI rose from 362 to 425.

The latest survey has once again brought the demand for a planned smog break into focus. It also revives an earlier discussion: a 2017 LocalCircles survey found that 55% of Delhi-NCR parents wanted schools to close on fixed dates between November 1 and 20 every year.

With the proposed November 10-15 window falling within the period already earmarked for reduced office attendance, parents are asking authorities to extend similar precautionary measures to schoolchildren.

Whether administrations announce a common break remains to be seen. But with pollution levels already high and the post-Diwali period approaching, parents want a decision before children have to spend another week travelling to school through heavily polluted air.

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