This article is about the capital of India, within the union territory of Delhi.

For other uses, see New Delhi (disambiguation).

New Delhi

Naī Dillī

Federal capital city

New Delhi

Rashtrapati Bhawan

New Parliament House

Bharat Mandapam

LIC, Connaught Place

 Skyline of Connaught Place

Rajpath (officially "Kartavya Path")

India Gate

National War Memorial

Seal
New Delhi

Location in Delhi

Show map of Delhi Show map of India Show all

Coordinates: 28°36′50″N 77°12′32″E

Country India

Union territory Delhi

Lok Sabha constituency New Delhi

Constituent assembly New Delhi

Established 12 December 1911

Inaugurated 13 February 1931

Founded by George V

Government

• Type Municipal Council

 • Body New Delhi Municipal Council

• Chairman Amit Yadav, IAS

Area

[1][2]

• Capital city 42.7 km2 (16.49 sq mi)

• Rank 10

Elevation 216 m (708.62 ft)

Population

(2011)[3]

• Capital city 249,998

• Rank 11

• Density 5,900/km2 (15,000/sq mi)

• Metro (2018; includes entire urban 28,514,000

Delhi + part of NCR)

[4]

Dilliwale
Demonyms
Delhiite

Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST)

PIN 1100xx, 121003, 1220xx, 201313

(New Delhi)[5]

Area code +91-11

Vehicle registration DL-2X

International Airport Indira Gandhi International Airport

Metro line(s) Yellow Line

Blue Line

Violet Line

Pink Line

Airport Express Line

 Website www.ndmc.gov.in
New Delhi (/ˈdɛli/ ⓘ,[6] Hindi: [ˈnəiː ˈdɪlːiː], IAST: Naī Dillī), historically known as Indraprastha,[7] is the capital of India and a part of
the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting
the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sansad Bhavan, and the Supreme Court. New Delhi is a municipality within the NCT, administered by
the NDMC, which covers mostly Lutyens' Delhi and a few adjacent areas. The municipal area is part of a larger administrative
district, the New Delhi district.
Although colloquially Delhi and New Delhi are used interchangeably to refer to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, both are
distinct entities, with the municipality and the New Delhi district forming a relatively small part within the megacity of Delhi.
The National Capital Region is an even larger entity, comprising the entire NCT along with adjoining districts in the two neighbouring
states forming a continuously built-up area with it, including Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut, YEIDA City, Gurgaon,
and Faridabad.

The foundation stone of New Delhi, south of central Delhi was laid by George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911.[8] It was designed
by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931,[9] by Viceroy and
Governor-General Irwin.

History
Establishment

Lord Curzon and Lady Curzon arriving at the Delhi Durbar, 1903

The Delhi Durbar of 1911, with George V and Mary seated upon the dais

The 1931 postage stamp series celebrated the inauguration of New Delhi as the seat of government. The one rupee stamp shows George V with the

"Secretariat Building" and Dominion Columns.

Until December 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Rule. However, it had become the centre of the nationalist
movements since the late nineteenth century, which led to the Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon. This created massive
political and religious upsurge including political assassinations of British officials in Calcutta. The anti-colonial sentiments among
the public led to a complete boycott of British goods, which forced the colonial government to reunite Bengal and immediately shift
the capital to New Delhi.[10]

Old Delhi had served as the political and financial centre of several empires of medieval India and the Delhi Sultanate, most notably
of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the
capital of the British Indian Empire, as India was officially named, from Calcutta on the east coast, to Delhi. [11] The Government of
British India felt that it would be logistically easier to administer India from Delhi, which is in the centre of northern India. [11] The land
for building the new city of Delhi was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.

During the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, George V, Emperor of India, while laying the foundation stone for the viceroy's
residence in the Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp, declared that the capital of the Raj would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.[12][13][14]
[15]
Three days later, George V and his consort, Queen Mary, laid the foundation stone of New Delhi at Kingsway Camp.[16] Large
parts of New Delhi were planned by Edwin Lutyens, who first visited Delhi in 1912, and Herbert Baker, both leading 20th-century
British architects.[17] The contract was given to Sobha Singh. The original plan called for its construction in Tughlaqabad, inside
the Tughlaqabad Fort, but this was given up because of the Delhi-Calcutta trunk line that passed through the fort. [citation
needed]
Construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931. The gardening and planning of plantations was led
by A.E.P. Griessen, and later William Mustoe.[18] The city that was later dubbed "Lutyens' Delhi" was inaugurated in ceremonies
beginning on 10 February 1931 by Viceroy Lord Irwin.[19] Lutyens designed the central administrative area of the city as a testament
to Britain's imperial aspirations.[20][21]

The Secretariat Building houses Ministries

of Defence, Finance, Home Affairs and External Affairs. It also houses the Prime Minister's
office.
Soon Lutyens started considering other places. Indeed, the Delhi Town Planning Committee, set up to plan the new imperial capital,
with George Swinton as chairman, and John A. Brodie and Lutyens as members, submitted reports for both north and south sites.
However, it was rejected by the Viceroy when the cost of acquiring the necessary properties was found to be too high. The central
axis of New Delhi, which today faces east at India Gate, was previously meant to be a north–south axis linking the Viceroy's
House at one end with Paharganj at the other. Eventually, owing to space constraints and the presence of a large number of
heritage sites on the north side, the committee settled on the south site. [22] A site atop the Raisina Hill, formerly Raisina Village,
a Meo village, was chosen for the Rashtrapati Bhawan, then known as the Viceroy's House. The reason for this choice was that the
hill lay directly opposite the Dinapanah citadel, which was also considered the site of Indraprastha, the ancient region of Delhi.
Subsequently, the foundation stone was shifted from the site of Delhi Durbar of 1911–1912, where the Coronation Pillar stood, and
embedded in the walls of the forecourt of the Secretariat. The Rajpath, also known as King's Way, stretched from the India Gate to
the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Secretariat building, the two blocks of which flank the Rashtrapati Bhawan and houses ministries of
the government of India, and the Parliament House, both designed by Baker, are located at the Sansad Marg and run parallel to the
Rajpath.

In the south, land up to Safdarjung's Tomb was acquired to create what is today known as Lutyens' Bungalow Zone.[23] Before
construction could begin on the rocky ridge of Raisina Hill, a circular railway line around the Council House (now Parliament House),
called the Imperial Delhi Railway, was built to transport construction material and workers for the next twenty years. The last
stumbling block was the Agra-Delhi railway line that cut right through the site earmarked for the hexagonal All-India War Memorial
(India Gate) and Kingsway (Rajpath), which was a problem because the Old Delhi Railway Station served the entire city at that time.
The line was shifted to run along the Yamuna River, and it began operating in 1924. The New Delhi Railway Station opened in 1926,
with a single platform at Ajmeri Gate near Paharganj, and was completed in time for the city's inauguration in 1931.[24][25] As
construction of the Viceroy's House (the present Rashtrapati Bhavan), Central Secretariat, Parliament House, and All-India War
Memorial (India Gate) was winding down, the building of a shopping district and a new plaza, Connaught Place, began in 1929, and
was completed by 1933. Named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught (1850–1942), it was designed by Robert Tor Russell,
chief architect to the Public Works Department (PWD).[26]

After the capital of India moved to Delhi, a temporary secretariat building was constructed in a few months in 1912 in North Delhi.
Most of the government offices of the new capital moved here from the 'Old secretariat' in Old Delhi (the building now houses
the Delhi Legislative Assembly), a decade before the new capital was inaugurated in 1931. Many employees were brought into the
new capital from distant parts of India, including the Bengal Presidency and Madras Presidency. Subsequently, housing for them
has developed around Gole Market area in the 1920s.[27] Built in the 1940s, to house government employees, with bungalows for
senior officials in the nearby Lodhi Estate area, Lodhi colony near historic Lodhi Gardens, was the last residential areas built by
the British Raj.[28]

Post-independence

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the home of the President of India

After India gained independence in 1947, limited autonomy was conferred to New Delhi and was administered by a Chief
Commissioner appointed by the Government of India. In 1966, Delhi was converted into a union territory and eventually the Chief
Commissioner was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union
Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi. [29] A system was introduced under which the elected
government was given wide powers, excluding law and order which remained with the Central Government. The actual enforcement
of the legislation came in 1993.

The first major extension of New Delhi outside of Lutyens' Delhi came in the 1950s when the Central Public Works
Department (CPWD) developed a large area of land southwest of Lutyens' Delhi to create the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri,
where land was allotted for embassies, chanceries, high commissions and residences of ambassadors, around a wide central
vista, Shanti Path.[30]

Geography
With a total area of 42.7 km2 (16.5 sq mi),[1] the municipality of New Delhi forms a small part of the Delhi metropolitan area. [31] Since
the city is located on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, there is little difference in elevation across the city. New Delhi and surrounding areas
were once a part of the Aravali Range; all that is left of those mountains is the Delhi Ridge, which is also called the Lungs of Delhi.
While New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna River, it is essentially a landlocked city. East of the river is the urban area
of Shahdara.

Seismology
New Delhi falls under the seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to earthquakes.[32] It lies on several fault lines and thus experiences
frequent earthquakes, most of them of mild intensity. There was a spike in the number of earthquakes between 2011 and 2015,
most notable being a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in 2015 with its epicentre in Nepal, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake on 25 November
2007, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake on 7 September 2011, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on 5 March 2012, and a swarm of twelve
earthquakes, including four of magnitudes 2.5, 2.8, 3.1, and 3.3, on 12 November 2013.

Climate
See also: Climate of Delhi
The climate of New Delhi is a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) bordering on a hot semi-arid
climate (Köppen BSh) with high variation between summer and winter in terms of both temperature and rainfall. The temperature
varies from 46 °C (115 °F) in summers to around 0 °C (32 °F) in winters. The area's version of a humid subtropical climate is
noticeably different from many other cities with this climate classification in that it features long and very hot summers with dust
storms, relatively dry and mild winters with wildfire haze, and a monsoonal period. Summers are long, extending from early April to
October, with the monsoon season occurring in the middle of the summer. Winter starts in November and peaks in January. The
annual mean temperature is around 25 °C (77 °F); monthly daily mean temperatures range from approximately 13 to 34 °C (55 to
93 °F). New Delhi's highest temperature ever recorded is 49.2 °C (120.6 °F) on 15 May 2022 at Met Delhi Mungeshpur while the
lowest temperature ever recorded is −2.2 °C (28.0 °F) on 11 January 1967 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (formerly known
as Palam Airport).[33] The average annual rainfall is 774.4 millimetres (30.49 in) & monsoon rainfall from June to September is about
640.4 millimetres (25.21 in), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August.[34]

hide
v

Climate data for New Delhi (Safdarjung) 1991–2020, extremes 1901–

present

F N
M A Ye
Month Jan e Mar Apr Jun Jul Sep Oct o Dec
ay ug ar
b v

3
4
. 3
47 42 47.
1 6. 30.
Record 32.5 40.6 45.6 .2 46.7 45.0 .0 40.6 39.4 2
( 1 0
high °C (90.5 (105. (114. (1 (116. (113. (1 (105. (102. (11
9 (9 (86.
(°F) ) 1) 1) 17 1) 0) 07 1) 9) 7.0
3 7. 0)
.0) .6) )
. 0)
4
)

2
9
. 3
44 37 44.
Mean 5 2. 27.
25.8 35.8 41.4 .3 43.7 40.1 .4 37.1 36.1 8
maxim ( 2 3
(78.4 (96.4 (106. (1 (110. (104. (9 (98.8 (97.0 (11
um °C 8 (9 (81.
) ) 5) 11 7) 2) 9. ) ) 2.6
(°F) 5 0. 1)
.7) 3) )
. 0)
1
)

2
4
. 2
Mean 39 34
2 8. 22. 31.
daily 20.1 29.9 36.5 .9 39.0 35.6 .2 34.1 33.0
( 4 8 4
maxim (68.2 (85.8 (97.7 (1 (102. (96.1 (9 (93.4 (91.4
7 (8 (73. (88
um °C ) ) ) 03 2) ) 3. ) )
5 3. 0) .5)
(°F) .8) 6)
. 1)
6
)

Daily 13.9 1 22.9 29.1 32 33.3 31.5 30 29.6 26.2 2 15. 25.
mean (57.0 7 (73.2 (84.4 .7 (91.9 (88.7 .4 (85.3 (79.2 0. 6 3
°C (°F) ) . ) ) (9 ) ) (8 ) ) 5 (60. (77
6 0. 6. (6 1) .5)
 (
6
3 8.
9) 7)
. 9)
7
)

1
0
. 1
Mean 25 26
6 3. 18.
daily 7.5 15.6 21.3 .8 27.7 27.5 .7 25.0 19.5 8.4
( 0 9
minim (45.5 (60.1 (70.3 (7 (81.9 (81.5 (8 (77.0 (67.1 (47.
5 (5 (66
um °C ) ) ) 8. ) ) 0. ) ) 1)
1 5. .0)
(°F) 4) 1)
. 4)
1
)

6
.
0 20 23 8.
Mean
3.5 ( 10.7 16.3 .5 22.2 24.3 .7 21.9 15.0 8 4.5 3.1
minim
(38.3 4 (51.3 (61.3 (6 (72.0 (75.7 (7 (71.4 (59.0 (4 (40. (37
um °C
) 2 ) ) 8. ) ) 4. ) ) 7. 1) .6)
(°F)
. 9) 7) 8)
8
)

1
.
6 15 20 3.
−0.
Record −0.6 ( 4.4 10.7 .1 17.6 20.3 .7 16.1 9.4 9 0.0
6
low °C (30.9 3 (39.9 (51.3 (5 (63.7 (68.5 (6 (61.0 (48.9 (3 (32.
(30
(°F) ) 4 ) ) 9. ) ) 9. ) ) 9. 0)
.9)
. 2) 3) 0)
9
)

Averag 19.1 2 17.4 16.3 30 74.1 209.7 23 123.5 15.1 6. 8.1 77

e (0.75 1 (0.69 (0.64 .7 (2.92 (8.26 3. (4.86 (0.59 0 (0.3 4.4
rainfall ) . ) ) (1. ) ) 1 ) ) (0 2) (30
mm 3 21 (9. .2 .5)
(inches ( ) 18 4)
) 0 )
.
8
4
 )

Averag 1
2. 10 0. 40.
e rainy 1.7 . 1.7 1.0 4.8 9.7 5.5 0.8 0.6
7 .2 4 6
days 5

Averag
e relati
ve
humidi 4 5
57 37 25 28 43 63 68 60 47 59 49
ty (%) 6 2
(at
17:30 I
ST)

1
Averag 1 1
18 25 17
e dew 8 ( 14 14 22 26 23 18 4 10
(6 (7 (62
point ° (46) 5 (57) (57) (72) (79) (73) (64) (5 (50)
4) 7) )
C (°F) 2 7)
)

Mean 2
2
monthl 2 28 17 2,7
220. 4 220
y sunsh 3 248.0 276.0 5. 219.0 179.8 6. 219.0 260.4 73.
1 6. .1
ine . 2 7 5
0
hours 2

Mean
7
daily s 9. 5. 8.
7.1 . 8.0 9.2 7.3 5.8 7.3 8.4 7.1 7.6
unshin 2 7 2
9
e hours

Mean 1
1
daily d 1 13 13 10. 12.
10.6 12.0 12.9 13.9 13.8 12.3 11.5 0.
aylight . .6 .1 3 2
7
hours 2

Percent
possibl
7 7
e 67 67 71 68 53 42 44 59 73 69 63
1 7
sunshin
e

Averag
e ultra
3 5 6 7 9 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 6
violet
index

Source 1: India Meteorological Department (sun 1971–2000);[35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] Time and Date

 (dewpoints, 2005–2015)[49] Revised Rainfall data[50]

Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020);[51] Weather Atlas (UV Index)[52](Daylight)[53]

Average Barometric Pressure & Wind Speed of Delhi

Sept Nov Dece

Januar Febru Augus Octo Yea
Month March April May June July emb emb mbe
y ary t ber r
er er r

1,00 1,00 1,01 1,01 1,00

1,014. 1,005.
1,017.0 996.7 999.4 3.4 9.6 3.6 6.1 7.0
Average Atm 5 1,010.6 4 1,000.5 996.9
millibar millib millib milli milli milli milli milli
ospheric millib millibars millib millibars millibars
s ars ars bars bars bars bars bars
pressure mili ars (29.84 in ars (29.54 in (29.44 in
(30.03 i (29.43 (29.51 (29. (29. (29. (30. (29.
bars (inHg)[54] (29.96 Hg) (29.69 Hg) Hg)
nHg) inHg) inHg) 63 in 81 in 93 in 01 in 74 in
inHg) inHg)
Hg) Hg) Hg) Hg) Hg)

8.3 6.7 7.6 7.7 8.9

9.4 10.0 10.6 8.8 kilo kilo kilo kilo kilo
8.3
Average kilome kilome kilome 9.5 kilome metr metr metr metr metr
kilometr 9.5 10.2
Wind Speed tres tres tres kilometre tres es es es es es
es per kilometres kilometres
kilometres per per per s per per per per per per per
hour per hour per hour
per hour hour hour hour hour hour hour hour hour hour hour
(5.2 mp (5.9 mph) (6.3 mph)
(mph) [55]
(5.8 m (6.2 m (6.6 m (5.9 mph) (5.5 m (5.2 (4.2 (4.7 (4.8 (5.5
h)
ph) ph) ph) ph) mph mph mph mph mph
) ) ) ) )

hide

Climate data for New Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport,Palam) 1971-2020 normals, extremes
1952–present

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

31.0 35.7 41.3 45.3 48.4 48.0 45.7 43.2 40.8 40.7 36.4 30.4 48.4
Record high °C
(87.8 (96.3 (106.3 (113.5 (119.1 (118.4 (114.3 (109.8 (105.4 (105.3 (97.5 (86.7 (119.1
(°F)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 26.1 29.5 42.6 45.3 44.9 40.9 38.2 37.8 32.7 27.4 45.3
Mean maximum 36.4 36.8
(79.0 (85.1 (108.7 (113.5 (112.8 (105.6 (100.8 (100.0 (90.9 (81.3 (113.5
°C (°F) (97.5) (98.2)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mean daily 19.9 24.1 40.7 39.6 28.3 22.7

30.0 37.1 36.0 34.5 34.4 33.3 31.7
maximum °C (67.8 (75.4 (105.3 (103.3 (82.9 (72.9
(86.0) (98.8) (96.8) (94.1) (93.9) (91.9) (89.1)
(°F) ) ) ) ) ) )

13.3 17.6 20.7 14.8

Daily mean °C 23.4 29.8 33.6 33.5 31.2 30.2 29.8 26.6 25.4
(55.9 (63.7 (69.3 (58.6
(°F) (74.1) (85.6) (92.5) (92.3) (88.2) (86.4) (85.6) (79.9) (77.7)
) ) ) )

Mean daily 7.3 10.6 13.7 9.0

15.4 21.7 26.4 27.9 27.4 26.4 24.9 19.9 19.2
minimum °C (45.1 (51.1 (56.7 (48.2
(59.7) (71.1) (79.5) (82.2) (81.3) (79.5) (76.8) (67.8) (66.6)
(°F) ) ) ) )

3.6 6.2 9.0 4.6

Mean minimum 9.7 15.3 20.8 22.3 24.1 23.3 21.7 15.6 3.3
(38.5 (43.2 (48.2 (40.3
°C (°F) (49.5) (59.5) (69.4) (72.1) (75.4) (73.9) (71.1) (60.1) (37.9)
) ) ) )

−2.2 −1.6 2.1 −1.3

Record low °C 3.4 8.6 14.6 19.8 17.8 20.2 13.6 9.9 −2.2
(28.0 (29.1 (35.8 (29.7
(°F) (38.1) (47.5) (58.3) (67.6) (64.0) (68.4) (56.5) (49.8) (28.0)
) ) ) )

18.1 19.3 5.5 6.4 719.2

Average rainfall 15.2 13.6 30.2 68.8 205.7 214.2 109.5 12.7
(0.71 (0.76 (0.22 (0.25 (28.32
mm (inches) (0.60) (0.54) (1.19) (2.71) (8.10) (8.43) (4.31) (0.50)
) ) ) ) )

Average rainy
1.4 1.6 1.4 1.2 2.7 4.0 8.9 9.4 5.0 0.8 0.4 0.4 37.2
days

Average relative
humidity (%) (a 56 48 36 24 25 42 62 67 59 43 44 54 47
t 17:30 IST)

Source 1: India Meteorological Department[56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65]

Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)[66]

hideClimate data for New Delhi (Ayanagar) 1971–2020, extremes 1967–present

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

29.7 33.2 40.6 45.0 47.4 47.0 44.8 42.7 41.0 39.4 36.4 30.2 47.4
Record high °C
(85.5 (91.8 (105.1 (113.0 (117.3 (116.6 (112.6 (108.9 (105.8 (102.9 (97.5 (86.4 (117.3
(°F)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 25.2 29.4 42.8 45.9 45.6 41.5 38.3 32.2 27.7 46.2
Mean maximum 36.2 37.2 36.2
(77.4 (84.9 (109.0 (114.6 (114.1 (106.7 (100.9 (90.0 (81.9 (115.2
°C (°F) (97.2) (99.0) (97.2)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mean daily 19.2 24.3 41.2 40.5 28.3 22.2

30.7 36.8 35.7 34.3 34.2 33.4 31.7
maximum °C (66.6 (75.7 (106.2 (104.9 (82.9 (72.0
(87.3) (98.2) (96.3) (93.7) (93.6) (92.1) (89.1)
(°F) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mean daily 7.7 11.0 14.2 8.3

15.4 21.0 25.5 27.1 26.5 25.8 24.2 19.5 18.9
minimum °C (45.9 (51.8 (57.6 (46.9
(59.7) (69.8) (77.9) (80.8) (79.7) (78.4) (75.6) (67.1) (66.0)
(°F) ) ) ) )

3.6 6.8 9.8 3.2

Mean minimum 10.5 16.3 19.7 20.6 22.8 23.1 21.5 14.5 2.9
(38.5 (44.2 (49.6 (37.8
°C (°F) (50.9) (61.3) (67.5) (69.1) (73.0) (73.6) (70.7) (58.1) (37.2)
) ) ) )

−1.3 0.0 3.2 −0.5

Record low °C 3.8 8.4 13.8 18.0 19.8 21.3 14.0 9.4 −1.3
(29.7 (32.0 (37.8 (31.1
(°F) (38.8) (47.1) (56.8) (64.4) (67.6) (70.3) (57.2) (48.9) (29.7)
) ) ) )

18.0 19.8 2.1 5.4 669.1

Average rainfall 21.6 10.7 31.1 69.9 182.2 188.4 106.1 13.8
(0.71 (0.78 (0.08 (0.21 (26.33
mm (inches) (0.85) (0.42) (1.22) (2.75) (7.17) (7.42) (4.18) (0.54)
) ) ) ) )

Average rainy
1.6 1.6 2.1 1.0 2.8 4.5 8.5 8.6 4.7 0.6 0.3 0.4 36.7
days

Average relative
humidity (%) (a 64 52 40 26 24 37 64 68 63 50 52 58 51
t 17:30 IST)

Source: India Meteorological Department[67][68] February record high[69]

hideClimate data for New Delhi (Delhi Ridge) 1991–2020, extremes 1971–present
 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

27.5 34.2 40.9 45.7 47.2 47.9 42.5 40.4 38.4 38.4 34.2 29.8 47.9
Record high °C
(81.5 (93.6 (105.6 (114.3 (117.0 (118.2 (108.5 (104.7 (101.1 (101.1 (93.6 (85.6 (118.2
(°F)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

24.4 29.6 42.8 45.7 44.8 40.4 32.5 27.2 45.9

Mean maximum 36.4 37.7 36.8 36.4
(75.9 (85.3 (109.0 (114.3 (112.6 (104.7 (90.5 (81.0 (114.6
°C (°F) (97.5) (99.9) (98.2) (97.5)
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mean daily 19.0 24.4 40.7 39.8 28.0 22.5

31.0 37.0 35.1 33.9 34.0 33.4 31.4
maximum °C (66.2 (75.9 (105.3 (103.6 (82.4 (72.5
(87.8) (98.6) (95.2) (93.0) (93.2) (92.1) (88.5)
(°F) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mean daily 8.7 12.1 15.1 9.9

16.8 22.0 25.9 27.0 26.1 25.5 24.1 20.3 19.2
minimum °C (47.7 (53.8 (59.2 (49.8
(62.2) (71.6) (78.6) (80.6) (79.0) (77.9) (75.4) (68.5) (66.6)
(°F) ) ) ) )

5.4 9.0 11.5 5.3

Mean minimum 12.0 17.4 20.7 21.3 22.7 23.2 21.5 17.0 4.7
(41.7 (48.2 (52.7 (41.5
°C (°F) (53.6) (63.3) (69.3) (70.3) (72.9) (73.8) (70.7) (62.6) (40.5)
) ) ) )

1.5 7.0 9.7 3.5

Record low °C 10.2 11.6 14.2 16.7 21.0 21.6 19.0 12.4 1.5
(34.7 (44.6 (49.5 (38.3
(°F) (50.4) (52.9) (57.6) (62.1) (69.8) (70.9) (66.2) (54.3) (34.7)
) ) ) )

20.1 19.5 2.1 6.1 694

Average rainfall 17.8 7.6 34.0 60.7 190.1 190.2 119.3 26.5
(0.79 (0.77 (0.08 (0.24 (27.32
mm (inches) (0.70) (0.30) (1.34) (2.39) (7.48) (7.49) (4.70) (1.04)
) ) ) ) )
 Average rainy
1.9 1.5 1.3 1.1 2.4 3.9 8.3 9.4 5.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 36.3
days

Average relative
humidity (%) (a 66 54 41 29 31 44 71 76 68 55 54 62 55
t 17:30 IST)

Source: India Meteorological Department[70][71] February record high[69]

Air quality
See also: Environmental issues in Delhi and Air pollution in Delhi
In Mercer's 2015 annual quality-of-living survey, New Delhi ranks at number 154 out of 230 cities due to bad air quality and
pollution.[72][73] The World Health Organization ranked New Delhi as the world's worst polluted city in 2014 among about 1,600 cities
the organisation tracked around the world.[74][75][76][77] In 2016, United States Environmental Protection Agency listed New Delhi as the
most polluted city on Earth[78][79] and IQAir listed New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital city for the second straight year in
year 2019.[80]

Dense smog at Connaught Place, New Delhi

In an attempt to lessen air pollution in New Delhi, which gets worse during the winter, a temporary alternate-day travel scheme for
cars using the odd- and even-numbered licence plates system was announced by Delhi government in December 2015. In addition,
trucks were to be allowed to enter India's capital only after 11 pm, two hours later than the existing restriction.[77] The driving
restriction scheme was planned to be implemented as a trial from 1 January 2016 for an initial period of 15 days. The restriction was
in force between 8 am and 8 pm, and traffic was not restricted on Sundays.[81] Public transportation service was increased during the
restriction period.[77]

On 16 December 2015, the Supreme Court of India mandated several restrictions on Delhi's transportation system to curb pollution.
Among the measures, the court ordered to stop registrations of diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000
cc and over until 31 March 2016. The court also ordered all taxis in the Delhi region to switch to compressed natural gas by 1 March
2016. Transportation vehicles that are more than 10 years old were banned from entering the capital. [82]

Analysing real-time vehicle speed data from Uber Delhi revealed that during the odd-even program, average speeds went up by a
statistically significant 5.4 per cent (2.8 standard deviation from normal). This means vehicles have lesser idling time in traffic and
vehicle engines would run closer to minimum fuel consumption.[83] In bordering areas, PM 2.5 levels were recorded more than 400
(ug/m3) while in inner areas in Delhi, they were recorded between 150 and 210 on an average. [84] However, the subcity of Dwarka,
located in the southwest district, has a substantially low level of air pollution. At the NSIT University campus, located in sector 3
Dwarka, pollution levels were as low as 93 PPM.[citation needed]

On 7 November 2017, the Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency due to high pollution levels.[85] The highest
being in the Punjabi Bagh district with an air quality index of 999 and in the RK Puram district with an index of 852. The lowest index
recorded was in the Anand Vihar district with an index of 319.[86] Levels of PM2.5 were recorded at 710 μg/m3, more than 11 times
the World Health Organization's safe limit.[85]

In a 2018 study, New Delhi was found to be the most polluted capital out of 61 capital cities around the world. [87]
In December 2019, IIT Bombay, in partnership with the McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis,
launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in New Delhi, among other Indian cities. [88]

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India, The water quality of the Yamuna and Ganges river basins have improved as
industries are closed due to the lockdown.[89][90][91][92] The air quality has also significantly improved during the lockdown.[93]

On 5 November 2020, New Delhi recorded its most toxic day in a year, as the concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particles was
recorded at 14 times the WHO's safe limit.[94]

2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (PM2.5 AQI)

Hazardous
Very Unhealthy
Unhealthy
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Moderate
Good

Janu Febru Septem Octo Novem Decem

Month March April May June July August
ary ary ber ber ber ber

201- 101- 101- 101- 101- 401- 401- 301-

201- 51-100 51-100 51-100
Averag 300 200 200 200 200 500 500 400
300
e Air (Satisfac (Satisfac (Satisfac
quality (Moder (Moder (Moder (Moder (Seve (Sever (Very
(Poor) tory) tory) tory)
index (Poor ate) ate) ate) ate) re) e) Poor)
)

Demographics
As of 2011, the New Delhi Municipal Council area has a population of 249,998. [3] Hindi is the most widely spoken language in New
Delhi and the lingua franca of the city. English is primarily used as the formal language by business and government institutes.
[95]
New Delhi has a literacy rate of 89.38% according to 2011 census, which is the highest in Delhi. [96]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±%

1931 73,653 —
 1941 93,733 +27.3%

1951 276,314 +194.8%

1961 261,545 −5.3%

1971 301,801 +15.4%

1981 273,036 −9.5%

1991 301,297 +10.4%

2001 302,363 +0.4%

2011 257,803 −14.7%

Source: Government of India[97]

Religion
Religion in New Delhi (NDMC)[98]
Religion Percent
Hinduism 89.82%
Islam 4.50%
Christianity 2.93%
Sikhism 1.97%
Jainism 0.42%
Others 0.36%

According to 2011 census, Hinduism is the religion of 89.8% of New Delhi's population.[98] There are also communities
of Muslims (4.5%), Christians (2.9%), Sikhs (2.0%), Jains (0.4%).[98] Other religious groups include Parsis, Buddhists, and Jews.[99]

 Relig