The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on October 21, 2026, invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after the national capital’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category following Dussehra celebrations. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 244 at 2 pm, compared with 179 a day earlier, prompting authorities to activate pollution-control measures across the National Capital Region (NCR).
The restrictions focus on reducing road dust, construction emissions, vehicle pollution and open waste burning. The CAQM directed implementing agencies to enforce, monitor and review the measures to prevent air quality from deteriorating further. Residents have also been urged to follow the GRAP Stage I citizen charter as the region enters the winter pollution season.
Pollution Levels Rise
The deterioration in air quality came a day after Dussehra, when effigy burning and firecrackers added to the pollution burden. According to reports, unfavourable weather conditions, including low wind speeds and falling temperatures, also contributed to the accumulation of pollutants. The CAQM said, “Actions under Stage-I of the GRAP shall be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further.”
The commission has instructed agencies to maintain strict vigilance and intensify the existing measures. Under Stage I, construction and demolition sites must follow dust-control requirements, while open burning of waste remains prohibited. Authorities are also expected to ensure regular mechanised sweeping of roads, water sprinkling where necessary, and the timely collection and disposal of municipal and construction waste. These steps are intended to limit particulate matter released into the air, particularly from construction activity and road dust.
The measures also target emissions from commercial establishments and vehicles, with restrictions on the use of coal and firewood in roadside eateries and commercial kitchens. Diesel generator use is subject to the applicable restrictions, while authorities are expected to ensure reliable electricity supply to discourage unnecessary generator use. Traffic management, public transport improvements and public information campaigns are also part of the wider response.
What Stage I Means
GRAP is a graded system of emergency measures designed to respond to changing air pollution levels across Delhi-NCR. It has four stages, with Stage I activated when the AQI falls between 201 and 300, classified as ‘poor’. Stage II applies to ‘very poor’ air quality, with an AQI between 301 and 400, while Stage III and Stage IV cover increasingly severe pollution levels.
The restrictions are intended to address pollution at its sources before conditions worsen and more stringent interventions become necessary. The CAQM’s decision follows its approval of a revised GRAP schedule in September 2026, which consolidated certain actions relating to dust, waste management and transport and shifted some measures concerning diesel generator sets and buses to Stage I.
The revised schedule also extended certain restrictions on older, less-polluting-standard passenger vehicles to Sonipat, alongside Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar. While Stage I does not amount to a blanket shutdown of daily activity, it requires government bodies, civic authorities, industries, construction operators and other stakeholders to comply with measures relevant to their activities. The public is encouraged to use public transport where practical, maintain vehicles in good condition, avoid burning waste and report violations.
The worsening air quality also highlights the seasonal challenge facing Delhi-NCR, where transport emissions, road dust, construction, industrial activity and weather conditions can combine to produce prolonged periods of unhealthy air. As pollution levels fluctuate, authorities will need to assess air quality readings and forecasts before deciding whether further restrictions are necessary.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Clean air is a basic public health necessity, not a seasonal privilege, and the implementation of GRAP Stage I should be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen long-term pollution control rather than merely respond to a temporary spike. While the authorities must ensure that restrictions are enforced fairly and consistently, responsibility cannot rest with government agencies alone.
Construction companies must control dust, businesses must comply with emission rules, and citizens can contribute by avoiding waste burning, reducing unnecessary private vehicle use and choosing public transport when feasible. At the same time, authorities should communicate restrictions clearly, publish transparent air quality updates and ensure that practical alternatives are available to commuters and workers who may be affected by pollution-control measures.
The recurring deterioration in Delhi-NCR’s air quality calls for cooperation between neighbouring states, sustained action against major pollution sources and greater public awareness throughout the year. Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that directly affects children, older people, outdoor workers and those living with respiratory difficulties. Rather than treating clean air as a problem to address only when AQI readings rise, society must work towards solutions that protect public health and improve everyday living conditions. What steps do you think authorities, businesses and residents should prioritise to ensure cleaner air in Delhi-NCR throughout the year?
