**Executive Summary**
On February 18, 2026, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP revoked all Stage-II GRAP actions across the entire NCR with immediate effect due to consistent improvement in Delhi's daily average Air Quality Index (AQI). Stage-II was initially invoked on October 19, 2025. Stage-I actions will continue to be enforced.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Revocation of GRAP Stage-II:**
* All actions under Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are revoked across the NCR.
* Revocation is effective immediately.
* Decision based on improved AQI and forecasts by IMD/IITM.
* **Air Quality Improvement:**
* Delhi's daily average AQI has shown a downward trend from 261 on 16.02.2026 to 214 on 18.02.2026.
* AQI is likely to remain in the ‘Poor' to ‘Moderate' category.
* **GRAP Stage-I Actions:**
* All actions under Stage-I of GRAP shall continue to remain in force.
* Implementing agencies are directed to maintain strict vigil and intensify measures under Stage-I.
* **Continuous Monitoring:**
* The Sub-Committee will continue to closely monitor the air quality scenario.
* Future decisions will be based on air quality levels and forecasts by IMD/IITM.
* **GRAP Schedule:**
* The extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) is available on the Commission's website.
**Impact Analysis**
**Concerned Agencies**
* **Impact:** Continued implementation, monitoring, and review of Stage-I GRAP actions.
* **Action Required:** Maintain strict vigilance and intensify measures under Stage-I to prevent AQI deterioration.
**Residents of Delhi-NCR**
* **Impact:** Less stringent restrictions due to the revocation of Stage-II GRAP.
* **Action Required:** None, though continued cooperation with Stage-I measures is implied.
Key Entities Referenced
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A plan implemented in Delhi-NCR to tackle air pollution based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
Delhi-NCR: The National Capital Region including Delhi, where the GRAP is implemented.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): The body responsible for air quality management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The national pollution control body that issues the AQI Bulletin.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry under which environmental policies like GRAP are formulated.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM revokes GRAP Stage-II in Delhi-NCR as
AQI improves
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 6:27PM by PIB Delhi
The Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality
Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Wednesday decided to revoke all Stage-II GRAP
actions across the entire NCR with immediate effect, noting a consistent improvement in Delhi’s daily
average AQI over the past few days.
Stage-II of the extant GRAP had been invoked on 19.10.2025, when the average AQI of Delhi started
exhibiting an increasing trend.
Delhi’s daily average AQI has shown a downward trend, recording 261 on 16.02.2026, improving to 249
on 17.02.2026 and further improving to 214 today, as per the AQI Bulletin issued by the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB).
In view of the improving air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP met today to review the current
air quality scenario in the region, along with forecasts for meteorological conditions and the Air Quality
Index made available by IMD/IITM, and accordingly took a decision on the preventive and restrictive
actions under Stage-II of the extant GRAP.
During the review, the Sub-Committee observed that the AQI of Delhi has improved due to favourable
meteorological conditions and was recorded at 214 at 4:00 PM on 18.02.2026. Further, forecasts by
IMD/IITM indicate that the AQI is likely to remain in the ‘Poor’ to ‘Moderate’ category in the coming
days.
Accordingly, considering the improving AQI trend and the forecasts, the CAQM Sub-Committee on
GRAP unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage-II of the extant GRAP across the entire
NCR with immediate effect.
However, all actions under Stage-I of GRAP shall continue to remain in force and shall be implemented,
monitored and reviewed by the concerned agencies, as listed in the extant GRAP, to ensure that AQI levels
do not deteriorate further. All implementing agencies have been directed to maintain strict vigil and
intensify measures under Stage-I.
The Sub-Committee will continue to closely monitor the air quality scenario and review the situation from
time to time for further appropriate decisions based on air quality levels and forecasts by IMD/IITM.
The extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) is available on the Commission’s website at https://caqm.
nic.in/.
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GS
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