Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas Invokes 12-Point Stage-II Action Plan as Delhi AQI Reaches ‘Very Poor’ Zone
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) after Delhi’s hourly average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached around 300 (‘Very Poor’ category) on 19 October 2025. The decision was taken by the CAQM Sub-Committee following continuous monitoring of pollution trends.
The 12-point Stage II action plan mandates: intensified mechanical and vacuum road-sweeping, daily water-sprinkling at pollution hotspots, restrictions on construction and demolition activities, and a ban on non-CNG or non-electric buses entering Delhi. These steps build on the Stage I measures already in force under GRAP.
The CAQM has also urged citizens to use public transport, avoid open waste burning, and report pollution sources through official channels. The Commission will review the air-quality situation daily in coordination with the CPCB and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The activation of Stage II reflects India’s growing use of real-time, rule-based environmental management, moving from seasonal interventions to dynamic, data-driven enforcement. It highlights the role of inter-state coordination and citizen participation in addressing air-quality emergencies across the NCR.
What is CPCB?→ CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) – India’s apex body for pollution monitoring and control under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. It sets national air- and water-quality standards, collects real-time data, and provides technical guidance to CAQM and state boards.
What is GRAP? → GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) – A step-by-step emergency framework that mandates specific anti-pollution actions in the National Capital Region based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
Stage I – Poor (AQI 201–300): Strict dust control, mechanised sweeping.
Stage II – Very Poor (AQI 301–400): Ban on diesel generators, curb construction dust, restrict entry of polluting vehicles.
Stage III – Severe (AQI 401–450): Halt non-essential construction, close brick kilns and stone crushers, enforce work-from-home for public offices.
Stage IV – Severe+ (AQI > 450): Shut schools, restrict private vehicles, stop heavy-vehicle entry, and intensify enforcement.
Measures are cumulative, each higher stage adds to earlier ones, and implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in coordination with States.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can NCR states strengthen real-time pollution forecasting, enforce cleaner mobility, and institutionalise preventive measures so that GRAP stages become anticipatory rather than reactive?
Follow the full release here: PIB, 19 Oct 2025