**Executive Summary**
The CAQM Sub-Committee has revoked all actions under Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect as of May 29, 2026. This decision follows a significant improvement in Delhi’s air quality, with the AQI falling from 207 to 123. Despite the revocation, all concerned agencies are directed to maintain strict implementation of standing environmental guidelines to prevent air quality deterioration.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Revocation of GRAP Stage-I**
* All actions under Stage-I of the extant GRAP schedule are revoked across the entire NCR with immediate effect.
* The decision follows the improvement of Delhi's daily average AQI to 123 (Moderate category) on May 29, 2026.
* Stage-I was previously invoked on May 19, 2026, in response to a rising trend in pollution levels.
**Air Quality Drivers and Forecasts**
* Significant air quality improvement is attributed to strong winds and light rain.
* Forecasts from IMD and IITM indicate that the AQI is likely to remain in the 'Moderate' category in the immediate future.
**Continued Regulatory Compliance**
* Agencies must continue the strict implementation of all statutory directions and advisories issued by the Commission, MoEFCC, and the CPCB.
* Ongoing measures are required across all contributing sectors to sustain improved AQI levels and prevent a slide back into the ‘Poor’ category.
* The Sub-Committee will maintain close monitoring of meteorological conditions and air quality parameters to inform future decisions.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government Agencies and Government of NCT of Delhi**
**Impact**
These agencies are no longer required to enforce the specific emergency restrictive actions mandated under Stage-I of GRAP.
**Action Required**
Ensure the continued and strict implementation of standard statutory directions, rules, and regulations issued by the CAQM and MoEFCC to sustain air quality.
**Pollution Control Bodies (CPCB, State PCBs, and DPCC)**
**Impact**
Regulatory focus shifts from emergency GRAP Stage-I measures to the enforcement of routine environmental guidelines and sector-specific instructions.
**Action Required**
Monitor all contributing sectors to ensure compliance with existing pollution control orders and prevent the AQI from reaching 'Poor' levels.
**IMD and IITM**
**Impact**
The role of these bodies remains critical for providing the data necessary for the Sub-Committee's decision-making process.
**Action Required**
Provide ongoing meteorological and air quality forecasts to the Sub-Committee for continuous review of the regional scenario.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): The primary statutory body responsible for air quality regulation and issuing the order to revoke Stage-I measures.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): An emergency response framework with multiple stages of measures implemented to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): The specific technical body within CAQM that reviews air quality forecasts and decides on the invocation or revocation of GRAP stages.
Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR): The central geographic area where the air quality improvements were recorded and the GRAP revocation is applicable.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The parent central ministry providing the regulatory framework, rules, and guidelines for air quality management.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM Revokes Stage-I of GRAP Across NCR
with Immediate Effect as Delhi AQI Improves
Posted On: 29 MAY 2026 8:00PM 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) today revoked all actions under Stage-I of the extant
schedule of GRAP across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect, following a
significant improvement in Delhi's air quality.
Delhi's daily average AQI improved from 207 on 28.05.2026 to 123 on 29.05.2026, while forecasts by
IMD/IITM indicate that the AQI is likely to remain in the 'Moderate' category in the coming days.
The CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP had invoked Stage-I of the extant GRAP vide its order dated
19.05.2026 when the average AQI of Delhi started exhibiting an increasing trend.
The Sub-Committee met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as forecasts
for meteorological conditions and air quality made available by IMD/IITM.
While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee
observed that the AQI of Delhi had shown significant improvement owing to strong winds accompanied
by light rain and was recorded at 123 at 4:00 PM on 29.05.2026. The forecast by IMD/IITM also indicates
that the AQI is likely to remain in the 'Moderate' category in the coming days.
Keeping in view the improvement in Delhi's average AQI and the forecasts by IMD/IITM, the Sub-
Committee unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage-I of the extant schedule of GRAP
across the NCR with immediate effect.
All agencies of the concerned State Governments and the Government of NCT of Delhi in the NCR have
been advised to ensure strict implementation of all Statutory Directions, Advisories, Orders and related
instructions issued by the Commission, including the rules, regulations and guidelines issued by the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), and the respective State Governments, Pollution Control Boards and DPCC across all
contributing sectors. These measures are necessary to sustain the improved AQI levels and prevent air
quality from slipping into the 'Poor' category.
The Sub-Committee will continue to closely monitor the air quality scenario and review the situation from
time to time for taking further appropriate decisions based on the air quality in Delhi and forecasts
provided by IMD/IITM.
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VM/GS
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