Until mid-December, Delhi’s monthly average air quality remained the cleanest in the past five years. However, the respite was short-lived as the air quality worsened to the ‘very poor’ category with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 379 Monday.

The GRAP-4 curbs entail a ban on trucks except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel. Construction activities at public projects have been temporarily halted while non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi were prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has immediately put into effect the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage III across the National Capital Region (NCR) in response to the distressing levels of air quality.

Delhi-NCR air quality panel invokes GRAP stage III measures due to poor air quality from unfavourable weather conditions.

Delhi-NCR's air quality worsened, triggering GRAP III restrictions. Schools up to class 5 shifted to hybrid learning. Diesel goods vehicles are now banned within Delhi, and construction activities like demolition and excavation are halted.