Delhi’s air quality plunged to ‘Severe’ levels for the first time this season on Monday, prompting authorities to implement Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 425, triggering the enforcement of GRAP-3 measures. The step aims to curb emissions and control pollution as the toxic haze continues to blanket the national capital.
Pollution Trends Show Slight Improvement Year-on-Year
Despite the current spike, long-term data suggests a marginal improvement in Delhi’s air quality compared to last year. Between January 1 and November 9, 2025, the city’s average AQI stood at 175, compared to 189 during the same period in 2024.
As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the average PM2.5 concentration level was recorded at 75 µg/m³ and PM10 at 170 µg/m³, lower than last year’s 87 µg/m³ and 191 µg/m³, respectively.
Authorities have also noted a significant reduction in stubble-burning incidents, a major contributor to Delhi-NCR’s air pollution.
From September 15 to November 9, 2025, Punjab reported 4,062 farm fire cases, marking a 35.2% drop from 6,266 cases in the same period last year. Similarly, Haryana registered 333 incidents, a 65.3% decline from 959 in 2024.
The CAQM is working closely with officials from both states and other concerned agencies to ensure strict enforcement of anti-burning measures and pollution-control directives on the ground.
What Is GRAP?
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a four-tier emergency framework developed to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. It prescribes specific actions depending on the level of air quality:
Stage 1 – Poor (AQI 201–300)
Stage 2 – Very Poor (AQI 301–400)
Stage 3 – Severe (AQI 401–450)
Stage 4 – Severe Plus (AQI above 450)
Currently, with the AQI above 400, Stage 3 restrictions have been implemented.
Restrictions Under GRAP-3
Under Stage 3, a series of stringent measures are in force to control emissions and reduce public exposure to toxic air:
- Complete ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities, including earthwork, trenching, and open-air operations of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants.
- Prohibition on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles in Delhi and NCR districts.
- Ban on transporting construction materials such as sand and cement, especially via unpaved roads.
- Closure of stone crushers, mining, and hot-mix plants not operating on clean fuels.
- Restriction on diesel generator sets, except for emergency or essential services.
- Inter-state diesel buses barred from entering or operating in Delhi.
- Work-from-home advisories issued to private offices to reduce vehicular emissions.
- Closure of schools up to Class 5, with classes moved online to protect children.
Exemptions Under GRAP-3
Certain essential public projects are exempted from the ban. Activities related to railways, metro expansion, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare facilities are allowed to continue, provided they comply with strict dust and waste management guidelines.
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