The centre has revoked all the restrictions imposed in Delhi-NCR under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) after a significant improvement in air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Monday (March 16). The CAQM officials said that owing to favourable meteorological conditions, the air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 119 on Monday.
GRAP-1 restrictions had been in force under an order issued on October 14, 2025. However, all restrictions have been imposed now.
“Further, the forecast by IMD and IITM indicates that AQI is likely to remain in the moderate category in the coming days,” an official said.
The revocation of the restrictions means that curbs such as a ban on the use of coal and firewood as fuel in tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries, and the use of diesel generators only in emergency or essential situations will no longer be in place.
What Are Four Stages of GRAP?
There are four stages in GRAP, each linked to the AQI at the time.
The first stage, GRAP-1, kicks in when the AQI is between 201 and 300; the second stage, GRAP-2, is invoked when the AQI is between 301 and 400; GRAP-3 kicks in between 401 and 500; and GRAP-4 is invoked when the AQI is more than 450.
This year, GRAP-4 restrictions were implemented on January 17. Since then, as air quality improved, lower stages of GRAP kicked in.
GRAP-4 was revoked on January 20. Two days later, restrictions under GRAP-3 were lifted, and GRAP-2 measures were removed on February 18.
What Made Delhi’s Air Toxic This Winter?
As Delhi air continued to deteriorate in the past few months, a report revealed that as much as 65 per cent of air pollution in the national capital in 2025 originated from outside the city, mainly from other NCR districts, while local sources accounted for the remaining 35 per cent.
According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), accessed by PTI news agency, winter-period inputs from the Decision Support System indicated that pollution transported into the national capital outweighed emissions generated within the city during 2025.
