New Delhi : Delhi’s Air Quality Sees Improvement; Stage-III Restrictions Under GRAP Lifted Across NCR
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced the withdrawal of all Stage-III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region (NCR), following a steady decline in pollution levels.
📉 AQI Trend Shows Consistent Drop
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has been on a downward trajectory over the past few days:
- 391 on November 23
- 382 on November 24
- 353 on November 25
- 327 on November 26
This improvement prompted the CAQM Sub-Committee to review the situation along with forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
✅ Stage-III Restrictions Revoked
Stage-III restrictions had been in force since November 11, when AQI levels crossed the 400 mark. Given the disruptive impact of these measures on businesses, construction, and daily life, the committee decided to revoke them while acknowledging that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the “Very Poor” category in the coming days.
⚠️ Stage-I & II Measures Still Active
Authorities emphasized that all actions under Stage-I and Stage-II of GRAP will continue to be enforced across NCR. Agencies have been directed to intensify monitoring and ensure compliance to prevent AQI levels from worsening again.
Construction and demolition sites that were shut down due to violations will not be allowed to resume operations unless specifically cleared by the Commission.
👥 Citizens’ Responsibility
Residents are urged to follow the citizen charter under Stage-I and Stage-II guidelines, especially during the winter season when weather conditions can aggravate pollution levels.
🔎 Ongoing Monitoring
The CAQM Sub-Committee will keep a close watch on Delhi’s air quality and issue further directions if required. The revised GRAP schedule (November 2025) is available on the Commission’s official website: caqm.nic.in.
