AQI, Weather, Gold, Mandi, Fuel and Panchang Glossary

A 0-500 score summarising how polluted the air is, published by India's CPCB. See our AQI methodology for how the six pollutant sub-indices combine into one number, or check live AQI for any city.

Fine particulate matter under 2.5 microns wide, small enough to enter the bloodstream. Usually the pollutant that drives a city's overall AQI.

Coarser particulate matter under 10 microns wide, one of the six pollutants CPCB measures for AQI.

Central Pollution Control Board, the Indian government body whose monitoring stations supply the AQI data shown on this site.

A temperature adjusted for humidity and wind, recomputed on our side rather than taken as-is from the weather provider. See live weather.

99.9% pure gold, the base rate other purities (22K, 18K) are derived from proportionally. See gold prices.

91.6% pure gold, the BIS-hallmark standard used for most Indian jewellery.

A traditional South Asian weight unit for precious metals, equal to about 11.66 grams.

The international unit precious metals are quoted in on global markets, equal to about 31.1 grams (different from the everyday ounce).

A regulated wholesale market (APMC yard) where farmers sell crops to traders; India has thousands, and two mandis in the same city can report different prices the same day. See mandi prices.

Agricultural Produce Market Committee, the state body that regulates and licenses mandis.

The government-guaranteed floor price for certain crops, set before each sowing season, distinct from the day's actual mandi trading price.

The most commonly traded price for a commodity at a mandi on a given day, alongside the reported minimum and maximum.

Compressed Natural Gas, sold as a vehicle fuel through city gas stations. See gas prices.

Piped Natural Gas, delivered to homes and businesses through a local pipeline network rather than a filling station.

City Gas Distribution, the licensed operator supplying CNG/PNG in a given city or region.

The value of one currency against another, e.g. how many rupees one US dollar buys. See currency rates.

The BSE's benchmark index tracking 30 large, established Indian companies. See live stock market.

The NSE's benchmark index tracking 50 large Indian companies across sectors.

The interest rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends to commercial banks, a key lever for inflation and loan rates nationwide.

The daily Hindu almanac covering Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, and sunrise/sunset timings. See today's Panchang.

A lunar day in the Hindu calendar, based on the angle between the sun and moon rather than a fixed 24-hour period.

One of 27 lunar mansions (star divisions) the moon passes through, used in Panchang and astrology.

A daily inauspicious time window, one of several such periods listed alongside the day's auspicious Muhurat windows.

An auspicious time window for starting an activity, such as Abhijit Muhurat around midday. See today's Muhurat.

A daily astrological reading by zodiac sign (rashi). See today's Rashifal.

National Highways Authority of India, which publishes the toll-plaza rate schedules behind our toll rates page.

India's mandatory prepaid RFID tag for automatic toll payment at highway toll plazas.