The air quality in urban areas of India has become a significant concern for residents. Delhi, one of the country’s most densely populated cities, consistently ranks among the most polluted. The rapid pace of urbanization, alongside increased transportation, construction activities, industrial operations, and power generation, has resulted in substantial levels of pollution, with key pollutants including \(NO_{2}\) , ozone, \(SO_{2}\) , particulate matter ( \(PM_{2.5}\) ), and particulate matter ( \(PM_{10}\) ). This study empirically examines the air quality in these areas by analyzing daily Air Quality Index parameters in 2023, specifically \(PM_{2.5}\) , \(PM_{10}\) , \(NO_{2}\) , and ozone. For a detailed analysis, the Delhi region is divided into 14 zones. To assess the air quality of these zones, the study proposes using data envelopment analysis (DEA) techniques with the computational tool LINGO 21.0. The DEA model is then applied to evaluate and compare air quality efficiency across the different zones in Delhi for 2023, highlighting areas in need of improvement. Two key findings emerge from the study. Firstly, air quality across all 14 zones fluctuates throughout the months. Secondly, these zones must undertake decisive and substantial actions to enhance air quality, particularly during the months most affected by pollution. The results indicate that the most severe pollution occurs during the first quarter of the year, especially in winter. The study includes graphical illustrations of these findings and gathers supporting data from https://vahan.parivahan.gov.in .