Toxic air chokes playgrounds: Delhi schools halt outdoor sports amid high AQI

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has suspended all outdoor sports activities in Delhi schools as air quality worsens, following concerns raised by the Supreme Court (SC) and directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). With AQI levels reaching the ‘severe’ category in several localities, including a high of 442 in Wazirpur, schools have cancelled sports schedules and shifted to indoor plans. Meanwhile, the Delhi government announced long-term school modernisation with AI-enabled tools and upgraded infrastructure.