Air quality and related policies have not received much attention from urban political ecology. The recently implemented air pollution policies in the capital of India are examined and analyzed in this paper, as well as the contribution of development to rising levels of air pollution. The paper considers the implications of these policies on change in pollution. Many recent studies found that urbanization is a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi. Construction activities, industrial emissions, and waste burning are other major sources of air pollution in the city. This highlights the need for proper policy-making and implementation studies to address this issue. The review incorporates studies of key policies, including the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for air quality management and the Odd–Even Scheme aimed at reducing vehicular emissions, etc. Additionally, some case studies of globally implemented actions to reduce pollution are included. Recent studies have consistently pointed out that urbanization plays a significant role in driving air pollution levels in Delhi. The multifaceted sources, including construction activities, industrial emissions, and waste burning, further underscore the complexity of the problem and necessitate diligent policy-making and effective implementation strategies.