School children in Delhi-NCR and surrounding states will face delays in their winter sports competitions this year. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has recommended that the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh refrain from scheduling any physical sports activities or competitions during November and December 2026 due to air quality concerns.
CAQM held an urgent consultative meeting the same day with representatives from the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, the Delhi and NCR state governments, the Sports Authority of India, NCR pollution control boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. The advisory does not mean that every school sports competition has been cancelled. Events already scheduled may be rescheduled. Meanwhile, authorities have been asked to ensure that students affected by the changes do not lose out.
Because of such changes are not unduly disadvantaged, the school and concerned authorities have also been asked to ensure that students who are unable to participate.
