Delhi bans outdoor school activities as air pollution hits ‘severe’ levels. [Photo: X]
Delhi has issued a fresh order to all schools to stop outdoor activities and sports as the city’s air quality slipped into the ‘severe’ category. The Delhi government announced the move after pollution levels rose sharply this week and triggered health concerns for children.
The order also came a day after the Supreme Court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider halting all school sports activities planned in November and December.
The CAQM issued an advisory asking all schools, universities, colleges and recognised sports associations across Delhi-NCR to postpone sports events. The commission said the current air quality poses major health risks to children. It warned that the toxic air makes activities like running, football practice, and winter tournaments unsafe.
The Supreme Court earlier expressed alarm over the worsening conditions. It said authorities could shift sports competitions to safer months. The court-appointed amicus curiae also put the situation in strong words. He said holding outdoor activities in November and December amounts to “virtually putting the school-going children in a ‘gas chamber’”.
With outdoor activities suspended, many Delhi schools have started exploring indoor fitness alternatives. Some have introduced low-intensity indoor exercises, yoga sessions, and breathing routines. Others are experimenting with virtual sports competitions, online training modules, and indoor mental skill-based events. Schools say these steps keep students engaged without exposing them to polluted air.
Education experts believe this shift may shape future winter schedules. Schools could design hybrid sports calendars that combine indoor and safe-weather outdoor events to avoid annual disruptions.
The Delhi High Court also raised concerns this week. It said the Delhi government was “shirking its responsibility” by allowing schools to continue sports activities at a time when pollution peaks every year. The statements from both courts added pressure on authorities to act quickly.
Delhi’s AQI stayed between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories over the week. On Friday, the average AQI stood at 373. Experts say such levels equal smoking nearly 10–11 cigarettes in a single day. Many parts of Delhi recorded even higher readings, crossing 400 in some pockets.
Doctors say children face far greater harm than adults. Their lungs are still developing, they breathe faster, and their smaller bodies take in more polluted air. Studies link long exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 with reduced lung capacity, chronic asthma, weaker immunity, and even slower cognitive development.
For many parents, the pollution season has become a yearly struggle. November often brings a spike in paediatric hospital visits, rising by 30–40% according to doctors. Coughing, wheezing, breathing trouble and viral infections become common. Families cope by keeping children indoors and limiting physical activity.
