Delhi's air quality improves, AQI in 'severe' category for only 10 days during winter season - Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that during the winter (October-January) of 2025-26, Delhi's air quality will remain at the severe level for only 10 days, compared to 31 days in 2016-17. He provided this information in response to a written question from Congress MP Manish Tewari.

He said that efforts made by 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) have yielded positive results, with 103 cities seeing a reduction in PM10 concentrations in 2024-25 compared to 2017-18. Of these, 64 cities have seen a reduction of more than 20 percent in PM10 levels, and 25 of these cities have recorded a reduction of more than 40 percent.

The Union Minister, while enumerating various measures taken by the government to tackle air pollution, said that Delhi's average AQI has improved from 225 in 2018 to 201 in 2025.

Government imposes fines of Rs 55 crore on 703 companies

The Central Government has imposed fines totaling over Rs 55 crore on 703 companies for non-compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act. Presenting the figures in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra said that there is no sign of an increase in non-compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013.

The Ministry has imposed fines on 703 companies during the nine-month period ending December 31, 2025. In the financial year 2024-25, fines of Rs 109 crore were imposed on 1,066 companies. The data also revealed that a little over ₹7.51 crore was recovered as fines in the first nine months of the financial year 2025-26.

Cartelization of steel manufacturers under investigation

The government on Monday informed that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is investigating alleged cartelization by steel manufacturers, and the investigation report has been shared with the concerned parties so that they can submit their objections and suggestions in accordance with the competition law.

The Lok Sabha was also informed that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) registered 54 cases related to anti-competitive activities and received 149 merger and acquisition (M&A) applications in 2025. In a written reply, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that as per the directions of the Madras High Court, the CCI has registered a case related to alleged cartelization by steel manufacturers.

Tamil Nadu sent 45 excavation proposals for central approval in five years

The government informed Parliament that the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department has sent 45 proposals seeking central approval for archaeological excavations in the last five years. The government further stated that eight of the twelve requests for excavations in 2025 are under consideration.

DMK MP Kanimozhi also asked whether the government was aware that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to positively consider and fully cooperate with any request made by the Tamil Nadu government to continue archaeological excavations at Adichanallur in Thoothukudi. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply, said, "Yes."