Sophiya Mathew is a Delhi-based correspondent for The Indian Express. She primarily covers Environment and Education. A 2024 graduate of the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, she has extensively reported on critical issues such as Delhi's air pollution crisis and on the livelihoods along the Yamuna banks. She has explored Delhi's school education system and authored in-depth features, including one on domestic workers balancing motherhood in their pursuit of education, as well as the education of Rohingya refugees in the capital.

October 23, 2025 06:07 IST
Source apportionment data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality management shows that the mix of pollution sources impacting Delhi has changed since Diwali on October 20.
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
October 23, 2025 06:01 IST
It has also sharply reduced the water flow into Western and Eastern Yamuna Canals
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
October 22, 2025 04:20 IST
The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) at 4 pm on Tuesday was 351 (very poor), up from 345 on Monday.
Wed, Oct 22, 2025
October 21, 2025 11:10 IST
According to CPCB data, Delhi’s air quality on Diwali this year (AQI 345) was worse than last year (328 in 2024), and higher than the previous two years — 218 in 2023 and 312 in 2022
Wed, Oct 22, 2025
October 20, 2025 05:15 IST
The matter has been listed for hearing on November 19
Mon, Oct 20, 2025
October 19, 2025 08:00 IST
Studies have previously shown that the city’s particulate matter levels spike sharply in the days leading up to and during Diwali
Sun, Oct 19, 2025
October 17, 2025 12:15 IST
Conventional firecrackers are illegal, the Supreme Court has ruled. You can buy only lower-emission ‘green’ crackers from designated outlets, and burst them only during specific hours on the days of Diwali and Chhoti Diwali. There are two things specifically that you must look out for while buying crackers. Here’s what they are.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
October 17, 2025 06:07 IST
The pollution build-up in Noida has been peaking between 7 pm and midnight — a pattern distinct from Delhi where spikes tend to occur later at night.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
October 17, 2025 06:03 IST
Teams, including officers of the Delhi Police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), have started patrolling various parts of the Capital.
Fri, Oct 17, 2025
October 16, 2025 06:17 IST
With Diwali only five days away and sales restricted to licensed outlets, firecrackers made outside NCR prohibited, and online sales banned, the short window offers more confusion than comfort.
Thu, Oct 16, 2025
October 16, 2025 06:09 IST
Difficult to establish that a cracker is really green, implementation record poor, lifting of ban may be counterproductive, say activists and experts
Thu, Oct 16, 2025
October 15, 2025 14:19 IST
Days ahead of Diwali, there is apprehension and scepticism: ‘No way to establish that a cracker is really ‘green’; supply-chain not foolproof, QR codes and stickers don’t help; policies piecemeal and directionless’
Wed, Oct 15, 2025
October 12, 2025 07:10 IST
Green firecrackers do not emit more ultrafine particles, and the findings are substantiated and reported in peer-reviewed high-impact factor publications, says Dr Sadhana Rayalu
Sun, Oct 12, 2025
October 12, 2025 07:00 IST
Delhi green crackers news, SC firecracker ban: The grey reality of Delhi’s long-running experiment with green crackers
Sun, Oct 12, 2025
October 09, 2025 12:56 IST
The study by researchers from Jamia Millia Islamia assessed 45 preschools, including 15 Anganwadi centres, 15 government preschools, and 15 private preschools.
Thu, Oct 09, 2025
October 08, 2025 20:52 IST
In its seasonal outlook issued earlier this month, the IMD had projected above-normal rainfall for most parts of the country in October, except Jammu and Kashmir and the southernmost regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Thu, Oct 09, 2025
October 08, 2025 05:45 IST
Before he became one of India’s most noted Yamuna activists, Misra, born in 1954, was a young IFS officer from the 1979 batch who refused to sign off on corruption
Wed, Oct 08, 2025
October 07, 2025 10:53 IST
The move comes amid concerns about Delhi’s air and water pollution levels calling for stronger oversight of polluting units, as reiterated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well.
Tue, Oct 07, 2025
October 06, 2025 11:42 IST
While rain and winds have kept the air in Delhi and the NCR relatively clean in recent days, this situation could change as it gets cooler, the wind direction changes, and incidents of stubble-burning in Punjab and Haryana increase
Tue, Oct 07, 2025
October 05, 2025 05:33 IST
The SOP also mandates the creation of dedicated WhatsApp groups for each hotspot, including nodal officers from all relevant agencies, to ensure real-time information sharing and quick mitigation
Sun, Oct 05, 2025
October 04, 2025 05:35 IST
At present, according to officials, there are 24 resource centres in Delhi. Of these, 10 were launched by Home Minister Amit Shah last month
Sat, Oct 04, 2025
October 01, 2025 17:17 IST
A key limitation is old source data, notes the study by think tank CEEW; says emission inventories should be updated ideally every 2-3 years. Also, despite the availability of advance forecasts, policy actions remain largely reactive, and not preemptive.
Wed, Oct 01, 2025
October 01, 2025 05:25 IST
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday confirmed that the curriculum, currently being finalised, will include lessons on the RSS
Wed, Oct 01, 2025
September 30, 2025 17:44 IST
From September 12 to 29, the city’s air quality index (AQI) stayed above 100 without respite — until Tuesday’s rain brought relief
Tue, Sep 30, 2025
September 28, 2025 22:11 IST
Kamla Nehru Ridge led the citywide tally in Delhi with 3,935 individual flies and 26 species
Mon, Sep 29, 2025



