GRAP-IV enforced in Delhi
With air quality worsening sharply across the Delhi-NCR, authorities on Saturday invoked the strictest restrictions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), triggering emergency curbs across the region.
This comes a day after the CAQM enforced GRAP 3 restrictions in Delhi-NCR on Friday. Currently, all stages of GRAP are in force. Earlier in the day, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 354, falling in the ‘very poor’ category. It deteriorated to 416, falling in the ‘severe’ category, by 6 pm.
The highest level of emergency curbs has been enforced with immediate effect after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 450-mark, triggering measures aimed at preventing any further spike in pollution and safeguarding public health. The Stage IV curbs come in addition to the preventive and restrictive actions already in force under Stage I, Stage II and Stage III of GRAP.
In a statement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 400 today, i.e., 17.1.2026 at 4 pm, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded as 428 at 8 PM, owing to a western disturbance, highly unfavourable weather/ meteorological conditions and lack of dispersal of pollutants.
The Commission said its GRAP sub-committee had decided to enforce all measures under Stage IV or ‘Severe+’ air quality with immediate effect after pollution levels crossed critical thresholds. In an official statement, the panel said.
“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.” It added that these steps would be in addition to restrictions already in force under Stages I, II and III. In an official order, the government directed that all administrative secretaries and heads of departments shall attend office regularly, with no more than 50 per cent staff strength physically present.
Further, NCR Pollution Control Boards and other agencies concerned have been asked to escalate the preventive measures to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region.
Restrictions on the movement of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar; work from home for 50% staff in govt and private offices in Delhi; hybrid mode for classes till IX and XI in Delhi; ban on construction and demolition activity, and barring the entry of non-essential trucks running on non-cleaner fuels in the city are among the restrictive measures under stage IV of the GRAP.
As part of the Stage IV action plan, the entry of trucks into Delhi has been completely stopped, except for those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services.
However, trucks running on LNG, CNG, electricity or BS-VI diesel are permitted to enter the city. “Stop entry of BS-IV truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential commodities/providing essential services). All LNG/ CNG/electric/ BS-VI Diesel trucks shall, however, be permitted to enter Delhi,” it said.
It is further clarified that all BSIII and below diesel-operated commercial goods vehicles, viz., LGVs, MGVs, HGVs, registered outside Delhi, are already not permitted to enter Delhi wef 1.11.2025, even if they are carrying essential commodities/providing essential services.
