**Executive Summary**
On January 22, 2026, the CAQM Sub-Committee revoked all Stage III actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect, due to improved air quality and forecast trends. However, all actions under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) remain invoked, and agencies should closely monitor the situation to prevent a rise in AQI levels. The Sub-Committee will continue to monitor the air quality and make decisions based on forecasts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Revocation of Stage III GRAP:**
* All Stage III actions across Delhi-NCR are revoked, effective January 22, 2026.
* This decision is based on the improvement in air quality and forecast trends.
* **Continued Enforcement of Stages II & I:**
* All actions under Stages II & I of the GRAP (November 2025) remain in effect.
* Agencies must implement, monitor, and review these measures to prevent AQI deterioration.
* **Construction and Demolition Sites:**
* Sites with specific closure orders due to violations cannot resume operations without explicit permission from the Commission.
* **Citizen Responsibilities:**
* Citizens are requested to adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant GRAP schedule.
* **Continuous Monitoring and Review:**
* The Sub-Committee will closely monitor the air quality and meteorological conditions.
* Future decisions will be made based on air quality and meteorological forecasts provided by IMD/IITM.
* **GRAP Schedule Availability:**
* The extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) is available on the Commission's website: https://caqm.nic.in/
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens**
* **Impact:** Citizens are no longer subject to Stage III restrictions but must adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of GRAP.
* **Action Required:** Citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant GRAP schedule.
**Construction & Demolition Project Sites**
* **Impact:** Sites that were closed due to violations remain closed until specifically authorized to reopen by the Commission.
* **Action Required:** Do not resume operations without explicit permission from the Commission.
**Regulatory Agencies**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring the current levels of air quality are sustained by the enforcement of Stage 1 and Stage 2 regulations.
* **Action Required:** Implement, monitor, and review actions under Stages II & I of GRAP; maintain vigilance to prevent AQI deterioration.
Key Entities Referenced
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution based on AQI levels.
Delhi-NCR: The geographical area to which the air quality regulations apply.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): The primary agency responsible for air quality management in Delhi-NCR, including implementing and modifying the GRAP.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Agency providing daily AQI bulletin.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM revokes Stage III restrictions across Delhi-
NCR as AQI improves
प्रव तथ: 22 JAN 2026 6:07PM by PIB Delhi
The Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality
Management (CAQM) revoked all Stage III actions across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect on
22.01.2026, in view of the improvement in air quality and forecast trends.
The Sub-Committee had invoked Stage III of GRAP on 16.01.2026, following a deterioration in Delhi’s
average AQI. Subsequently, Delhi’s air quality showed a downward trend. As per the daily AQI Bulletin
provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average AQI improved from 378 on
20.01.2026 to 330 on 21.01.2026 and 322 on 21.01.2026. In view of this improving trend and based on air
quality and meteorological forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the CAQM Sub-Committee met today to review the situation.
The Sub-Committee observed that the AQI of Delhi has been improving owing to favourable
meteorological conditions and recorded as 322 today i.e. 22.01.2026. Forecast by IMD/ IITM indicates
that AQI is likely to remain in the "moderate" to "poor" category in coming days. Therefore, keeping in
view the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of extant GRAP impacting a large number of
stakeholders and public, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP today unanimously decided to revoke all
actions under Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.
Further, all actions under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) shall, however
remain invoked and be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR
to ensure that the AQI levels do not rise further in the coming days. Agencies shall keep strict vigil and
especially intensify measures under Stages II & I of the extant schedule of GRAP in order to obviate the
need for re-imposition of Stage-III of extant GRAP in NCR.
Construction & Demolition project sites etc. which have been issued specific closure orders on account of
violations/ non-compliances of various Statutory Directions, rules, guidelines etc. shall under no
circumstances, resume their operations without any specific order to this effect from the Commission.
While GRAP Stage-III is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may
not be always favourable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are
requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant schedule of GRAP.
The Sub-Committee shall keep a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time
to time for further appropriate decisions depending upon the air quality in Delhi and forecast for
meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM.
The extant schedule of GRAP (November 2025) is available on the Commission’s website, i.e., https://ca
qm.nic.in/
*****VM/GS
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