The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Saturday announced a major overhaul of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), introducing tougher anti-pollution measures at lower pollution levels to arrest the rapid deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR as winter sets in. With the capital recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 360 on Saturday morning and projections of further worsening, the revised framework effectively shifts several stringent restrictions from higher stages to earlier ones.

Under the new schedule, measures previously enforced only at GRAP-IV (AQI above 450)—such as allowing offices to operate at 50 per cent capacity with the rest working from home—will now kick in at GRAP-III (AQI 401-450), which remains in force across Delhi-NCR. State governments and the Centre have been asked to immediately decide on hybrid work models for public, municipal, private, and central government offices. Similarly, staggered office timings and augmented public transport, earlier parts of GRAP-III, have been moved to GRAP-II (AQI 301-400) to enable earlier intervention.

The CAQM has directed all implementing agencies across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to immediately enforce the revised schedule. Several preventive measures that were previously activated only at GRAP-II have now been shifted to GRAP-I (AQI 201-300), signalling a more proactive approach to curb emissions from vehicles, construction, industry, and biomass burning before the situation turns severe.

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The move comes a day after the Delhi government ordered postponement of all outdoor sports events in schools and colleges through November and December. With meteorological conditions expected to trap pollutants in the coming weeks, authorities warned that further escalation to GRAP-IV—which includes a potential ban on non-essential truck entry and closure of non-emergency construction—cannot be ruled out if the AQI continues its upward trend.

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