In view of the sharp dip in air quality in Delhi on Saturday (December 13, 2025) evening, the the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) imposed stage 4 of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of emergency measures to control air pollution.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 441 as of 6 p.m. on Saturday (December 13). The CAQM implemented curbs under stage 3 of the anti-pollution measures earlier in the day just as the AQI slipped into the ‘severe’ category.
Saturday (December 13) recorded the worst air quality of the year so far, surpassing the earlier high of 428 recorded on November 11, official data showed. The deterioration in air quality has been attributed to slow wind speed, unfavourable weather parameters and meteorological conditions.
“Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-IV of the extant GRAP – ‘Severe+’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI > 450), with immediate effect, in the entire NCR,” the CAQM said in a statement.
GRAP-IV curbs come into effect in addition to the actions under Stages I, II & III of extant GRAP already in force across NCR, the CAQM added. Stage 4 is implemented when the AQI breaches the 450-mark.
