Authorities invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on October 21 after Delhi’s air quality index rose to 244, in the poor category, from 179 the previous day.
What is GRAP Stage 1?
The Commission for Air Quality Management activates Stage I when the AQI enters the 201–300 range. Measures include stricter dust control, road sweeping and water sprinkling, waste-burning enforcement and checks on polluting vehicles and activities.
What restrictions apply?
The response includes enforcement against open waste burning, tighter checks on pollution sources and measures to reduce road and construction dust. Exact obligations depend on the applicable CAQM schedule and local orders. Residents and businesses should check those orders before assuming that restrictions from a higher GRAP stage also apply.
Are schools and offices closed?
GRAP Stage I does not itself require a general shutdown of schools or offices. Residents should watch for separate local orders rather than assuming closures are in force.
What should residents do?
Check live readings from the Central Pollution Control Board, follow official health advisories and limit avoidable exposure to heavy roadside pollution, especially for people with respiratory vulnerabilities. The October 21 AQI is a dated reading, not a live October 22 value.
Sources: Commission for Air Quality Management; The Indian Express, October 21.
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Featured image credit: Photo: wili hybrid; retouch by Mfield / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. File photo, April 2008, with colour and perspective corrections by Mfield; not October 2026 conditions.
