Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently set off a debate with his question on X: Is Delhi still suitable to be India's national capital? This is when pollution levels in the city have reached "extremely severe." Tharoor's post has started discussions on whether or not Delhi should remain as the nation's capital; many people are stating southern cities like Chennai or Hyderabad, where air quality is relatively superior, as alternatives.

The debate mirrors Indonesia’s plans to shift its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara due to environmental issues and climate concerns. Is it possible that Delhi will be in the same boat, going forward?

Why did Indonesia change its capital?

In 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo passed a law that the capital would be transferred to East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. Jakarta, on swampy land in Java, suffers from serious congestion, heavy pollution, and sinking ground due to over-extraction of groundwater.

Widodo noted, "The government has conducted an in-depth study...the most ideal location for the new capital is in East Kalimantan." Jakarta's severe traffic congestion and its constant flooding added urgency to the need to get out of Jakarta while the floodwaters rose by submerging parts of it by 2050.

Which other countries have changed their capitals?

Indonesia is, however, not alone. Similar examples abound in the world. Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília in 1960, Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, and Kazakhstan from Almaty to Nur-Sultan in 1997. Other Southeast Asian neighbors like Malaysia and Myanmar have changed their capitals to address growth and urban challenges.

Is Delhi’s air quality as bad as smoking 49 cigarettes a day?

The alarming pollution levels in Delhi-NCR have reached new heights, with residents exposed to air equivalent to smoking nearly 49 cigarettes daily. On November 18, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city hit a hazardous 978, according to data from aqi.in.

This critical situation has been attributed to factors like stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and firecrackers during the festive season. The Supreme Court recently criticised the AAP-led Delhi government for delaying the implementation of Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes strict measures to tackle hazardous pollution levels.

As pollution levels worsen, the Delhi government has shifted most school classes online. Meanwhile, residents face growing health risks and reduced visibility as the city struggles with one of its worst pollution seasons on record.

What's next for Delhi?

As Delhi continues to grapple with worsening levels of pollution and urban issues, Tharoor's question can only serve to nudge discussions deeper into whether India should explore alternative solutions for new administrative hubs. For now, though, it is just a point of heated debate.