India, Nov. 18 -- Most parts of northwest India experienced blue skies and "satisfactory" and "moderate" air quality after a spell of "severe" air quality last week following widespread rains and snowfall in the hills and north-western plains on Sunday.

Stubble fires in Punjab have also stopped with the Kharif harvest season coming to an end. This year, paddy yield in Punjab is likely to be 22% higher than last year, according to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Compared to the past three years, air quality is considerably better this year in many north-western towns from November 13 to 17, shows data from Central Pollution Control Board's air quality index bulletins. On Wednesday morning also, the air quality index in no...