GRAP Stage III curbs revoked in Delhi-NCR amid slight improvement in air quality

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) connected Wednesday (November 26, 2025) revoked the Stage III restrictions nether the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) successful Delhi-NCR, aft the aerial prime showed betterment successful the past 3 days.

Delhi's 24-hour mean Air Quality scale (AQI) stood astatine 327 and forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest that the aerial volition stay successful the "very poor" category.

However, the CAQM said actions nether Stage I and Stage II of the modified GRAP, notified connected November 21, volition proceed and beryllium strictly monitored crossed the National Capital Region (NCR) to guarantee that the contamination levels bash not deteriorate again.

The CAQM's bid said the Sub-Committee connected the GRAP reviewed the aerial prime concern and noted the caller improvement, starring to the withdrawal of the November 11 directions that had triggered the Stage-3 measures.

Measures nether GRAP Stage II volition present beryllium applicable crossed the city, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.

With the withdrawal of the Stage III measures, the 50% work-from-home strategy mandated for offices has been discontinued and the hybrid mode of classes being followed by schools has besides been revoked, Mr. Sirsa said successful a station connected X.

The Stage III restrictions see a prohibition connected non-essential operation and demolition enactment and chromatic crushing and mining activities.

BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are restricted successful Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Stage III besides entails a prohibition connected older diesel goods vehicles successful Delhi, portion schools up to Class 5 displacement to a hybrid mode and offices whitethorn run with 50% unit successful Delhi-NCR.

The CAQM's bid said the operation and demolition sites that were closed owed to violations volition not beryllium allowed to resume enactment unless specifically permitted by the commission.

The CAQM directed each implementing agencies to support strict vigilance and intensify actions nether Stage-1 and Stage-2.

During winters, Delhi-NCR enforces restrictions nether the GRAP, which categorises the aerial prime into 4 stages -- Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450) and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI supra 450).

Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with conveyance emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and different section contamination sources, pb to hazardous aerial prime levels successful Delhi-NCR during winters.