Delhi Air Pollution: CAQM Revokes GRAP Stage-4 Across Delhi NCR With Immediate Effect

The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP on Wednesday revoked Stage-IV of the current Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Sub-Committee on GRAP on Wednesday revoked Stage-IV of the current Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect.

"The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas, in pursuance of the Hon'ble Supreme Court directions, issued a modified schedule of GRAP vide its order dated 21.11.2025 for implementation with immediate effect by all concerned (available on CAQM website i.e., caqm.nic.in),"  Commission for Air Quality Management said in a statement. 

Commission for Air Quality Management said "AQI of Delhi has shown significant improvement since yesterday night owing to high winds and favourable meteorological conditions and has been recorded as 271 ("poor,' category) on 24.12.2025. Air quality forecast provided by IMD/ IITM suggests an increase in AQI of Delhi due to slower winds in the coming days."

"The sub-committee, accordingly, decides to revoke with immediate effect its orders dated 13.12.2025, for invoking actions under stage 4 ('Severe+' Air Quality >450) of the modified schedule of GRAP," it said. 

What Is GRAP?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is an emergency framework implemented in the Delhi-NCR region to tackle air pollution and protect public health.

Stage 3 GRAP Restrictions in Delhi-NCR

Under GRAP  3, the following activities are restricted in the Delhi-NCR region:

• Construction & Demolition Ban: Non-essential activities like earthwork, trenching, piling, and open-air Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) operations are halted.
   
• Closure of Polluting Units: Stone crushers, mining sites, and hot-mix plants not using clean fuel must remain shut.
   
• Vehicle Restrictions: BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers are prohibited to cut emissions.
   
• Transport Restrictions: Movement of construction materials like sand and cement, especially on unpaved roads, is limited.
   
• Diesel Generator Ban: Only allowed for emergency and essential services like hospitals, airports, and metro operations.
   
• Bus Suspension: Inter-state diesel buses entering or operating in Delhi are suspended to reduce pollution.
   
• Work-from-Home Advisory: Private offices are encouraged to adopt work-from-home or hybrid models.
   
• School Closures: Schools up to Class 5 are closed, with lessons shifted online to protect children.

Exemptions Under Stage 3 GRAP

Certain essential services are allowed to continue under strict guidelines:

• Public projects for railways, metro rail, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare.
   
• Continuous monitoring by CAQM and state pollution control boards to ensure air quality and compliance.