**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the 27th meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) held on February 20, 2026. The meeting reviewed an expert report identifying PM2.5 as the key pollutant in Delhi and approved measures to improve air quality monitoring and emission standards across the NCR. Key actions include establishing 46 new air quality stations and stricter PM emission standards for industries across the Delhi-NCR.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Expert Report Review:**
* A report prepared by 33 experts identifies PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant affecting Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI).
* Winter months: the report identifies Secondary Particulates, Transport, Biomass Burning, Dust, and Industry as major contributors to PM2.5.
* Summer months: Dust emerges as the dominant contributor followed by Transport, Secondary Particulates, Industry, and Biomass Burning.
* **Air Quality Monitoring Augmentation:**
* Approved strengthening of the CAAQMS network by establishing 46 additional stations across Delhi (14), Haryana (16), Rajasthan (1), and Uttar Pradesh (15).
* This will increase the total number of CAAQMS in Delhi-NCR to 157.
* **Emission Standards and Waste Management:**
* Approved stricter PM emission standards for industries across Delhi-NCR.
* Approved measures for improved management of construction & demolition (C&D) waste.
* Approved strengthening of dust mitigation protocols.
* **Wheat Stubble Burning:**
* CAQM noted Direction No. 96 dated 13.02.2026 mandating coordinated and time-bound implementation of State Action Plans for prevention and elimination of wheat stubble burning in 2026.
* **Traffic Congestion:**
* Deliberated on the report regarding congestion at MCD toll plazas and the need for expeditious implementation of barrier-free Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) systems.
* **Action Plans and Enforcement:**
* Reviewed State-Level and City Annual Action Plans for 2026 aimed at air pollution abatement.
* Reviewed the status of Enforcement Task Force (ETF) actions and GRAP orders.
* **Appointments:**
* Took note of the re-appointment of Dr. S.D. Attri as Full-Time Technical Member, CAQM.
* **Vigilance:**
* The CAQM reiterated the need for continued strict vigilance, coordinated enforcement, and effective implementation of Statutory Directions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Industries Across Delhi-NCR**
* **Impact**: Subject to stricter PM emission standards.
* **Action Required**: Adapt to and comply with the new emission standards.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh)**
* **Impact**: Required to establish new air quality monitoring stations. Responsible for coordinated implementation of State Action Plans for prevention and elimination of wheat stubble burning.
* **Action Required**: Establish and maintain the new air quality stations. Ensure time-bound implementation of State Action Plans for wheat stubble burning prevention.
**Stakeholder: Municipal Corporations and Development Authorities**
* **Impact**: Need to implement City Annual Action Plans for air pollution abatement.
* **Action Required**: Implement and regularly monitor the Action Plans.
**Stakeholder: Implementing Agencies**
* **Impact**: Required to regularly review air pollution abatement measures and take strict and effective action across all sectors.
* **Action Required**: Commit to and ensure strict and effective action across all sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): Primary regulator responsible for air quality management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
PM2.5: Identified as the key pollutant in Delhi affecting air quality.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): Government body that issued orders related to CAQM.
Delhi-NCR: Geographic area where the new air quality standards and actions are applicable.
Supreme Court: Directed the preparation of the expert report reviewed by the CAQM.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM Reviews Supreme Court-Mandated
Expert Report at 27th Meeting; PM2.5 Identified
as Key Pollutant in Delhi
46 New Air Quality Stations and Stricter Emission Norms for
Industries Across NCR Approved
Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 6:39PM by PIB Delhi
At its 27th Full Commission meeting held on 20.02.2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management in
NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) considered a report prepared by a panel of 33 domain experts
pursuant to directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P. (C) No. 1135/2020. The meta-analysis of
source apportionment studies (2015-2025) identifies PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant impacting AQI in
Delhi and highlights the influence of both local emissions and the transboundary effect of regional
movement of pollution across the airshed.
The Report of Experts from IITs, academia, research institutes, NGOs and other reputed institutes
indicates that during winter months, major contributors to PM2.5 include Secondary Particulates
[transformed from gaseous emissions from Transport, Industries, Power Plants, Biomass Burning, etc.]
(27%), Transport (23%), Biomass Burning (20%), Dust (15%) and Industry including Thermal Power
Plants (9%). Further, during summer months, Dust (27%) emerges as the dominant contributor, followed
by Transport (19%), Secondary Particulates (17%), Industry (14%) and Biomass Burning (12%). Public
suggestions received on the Report are under consideration.
At the meeting, the Commission also approved strengthening of the CAAQMS network based on grid-
based spatial coverage, urban contiguity, land use, secondary particulates (transformed from gaseous
emissions from Transport, Industries, Power Plants, Biomass Burning, etc.) and population density
criteria. A total of 46 additional stations are to be established, i.e. 14 in Delhi, 16 in Haryana, 01 in
Rajasthan and 15 in Uttar Pradesh. With this augmentation, the total number of CAAQMS in Delhi-NCR
would increase to 157, thereby enhancing monitoring density and improving assessment of regional
pollutants and baseline air quality levels.
It also approved directions for the stipulation of stricter PM emission standards for industries across Delhi-
NCR, on the management of construction & demolition (C&D) waste and strengthening of dust mitigation
protocols.
The CAQM took note of Direction No. 96 dated 13.02.2026 mandating coordinated and time-bound
implementation of State Action Plans for prevention and elimination of wheat stubble burning in 2026;
It deliberated upon the report submitted to the Hon’ble Supreme Court regarding congestion at MCD toll
plazas and highlighted the need for expeditious implementation of barrier-free Multi-Lane Free Flow
(MLFF) systems integrated with RFID and ANPR technologies to reduce vehicular congestion and
vehicular emissions;The State-Level and City Annual Action Plans for 2026 for abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR were
reviewed. These Plans, prepared by the NCR States, Municipal Corporations and Development
Authorities, aim at sustained structural measures across key sectors including transport, industry, dust
mitigation, waste management and biomass burning. The Commission reiterated that implementation of
these Action Plans shall be monitored regularly.
The Commission also reviewed the status of Enforcement Task Force (ETF) actions including closures
and resumption of units and took note of GRAP orders issued since the last Full Commission meeting
dated 22.12.2025.
It took note of the re-appointment of Dr. S.D. Attri as Full-Time Technical Member, CAQM, pursuant to
orders issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The CAQM reiterated the need for continued strict vigilance, coordinated enforcement and effective
implementation of Statutory Directions. All implementing agencies committed to regularly review air
pollution abatement measures and to take strict and effective action across all sectors.
27th meeting of the full Commission held today under the Chairmanship of Sh.
Rajesh Verma, Chairperson, CAQM. Key agenda items were deliberated and
reviewed in detail during the meeting.
For more details, kindly visit:https://t.co/ZoT9oHagvq pic.twitter.com/bjqfiQNmz
M
— Commission for Air Quality Management (@CAQM_Official) February 20, 2026
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VM/GS
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