This story is part of “India Invented This?” — The Better India’s weekly trivia series that uncovers the Indian minds, ideas and innovations behind inventions that have shaped the way we live. From ingenious solutions created by scientists and engineers to technologies developed in response to some of India’s biggest challenges, each story goes beyond the invention to explore the problem it solved, the impact it created and why it still matters today.

On a winter morning in Delhi, the skyline can almost disappear behind a grey haze. The air feels heavy, eyes begin to sting, and even a short walk outdoors can become uncomfortable. For millions of residents, this is a familiar part of life during the city's pollution season.

But what if scientists could predict when the air is likely to get worse — before the haze settles in?

That is the question Dr Sachin Ghude, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has been working to answer.

Ghude has played a leading role in developing India's Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), which can forecast extreme pollution events in Delhi up to 72 hours in advance. Developed through a collaborative effort involving IITM, the India Meteorological Department and the National Centre for Medium Range........

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