New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has informed the Lok Sabha that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) purchased a total of 405 air purifiers over the last five financial years, between 2020-21 and 2024-25.The information was provided in response to an unstarred question by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and answered by Minister of State Tokhan Sahu on February 5, 2026.The year-wise breakdown offers a clear view of the sudden deterioration of air quality in the capital city.According to the ministry, while no air purifiers were procured by CPWD in 2020-21, the figure of 24 in 2021-2022 rose to 81 in 2022-23, followed by a significant increase to 144 units in 2023-24.In 2024-25, the CPWD procured 156 air purifiers.The reply said that the air purifiers were installed across a range of official and high-profile government premises. These include offices and chambers of judges and registrars of the Supreme Court of India, court rooms, offices of Union ministers, and VVIP lounges and dining halls. Devices were also issued to the Constitution Club of India, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats within the Parliament complex, and various central government offices.Additionally, air purifiers were also installed in buildings housing ministries and departments at Nirman Bhawan, Sewa Bhawan and Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. CPWD offices located in Jodhpur and Varanasi were also among the recipients.Moitra had also asked the ministry for detailed information regarding the make, model, cost and other specifications of the devices, as well as whether tenders were issued for their procurement.The government’s answers show that it spent Rs 4,20,394 in 2021-22, Rs 4,69,300 in 2022-23, Rs 6,29,219 in 2023-24, and Rs 10,24,500 in 2024-25 on air purifiers.As Delhi’s air pollution became a matter of grave concern, The Wire had noted in an analysis how the privilege of breathing cleaner air is increasingly determined by class. Aishwarya Bajpai had written how, “For those with stable incomes, a certain degree of protection comes easily: sealed office buildings, filtered ventilation, air purifiers, and digital AQI screens near elevators signalling when it is “safe” to step outside. For migrant workers, there is no escape.”In October, an air purifier visible in a photograph showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta sparked outrage.