On May 23, 2025, the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revoked Stage I of GRAP in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. This decision was based on the significant improvement in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), which reached 129 ("Moderate" category), and favorable meteorological forecasts from IITM/IMD predicting that the AQI will remain in the Moderate category in the coming days. While revoking Stage I, the Sub-Committee urged all concerned agencies in the NCR to rigorously enforce existing statutory directions, advisories, and orders to sustain the improved air quality and prevent it from deteriorating. Agencies are also directed to adhere to the comprehensive policies issued by the Commission, particularly regarding dust mitigation measures. The Sub-Committee will continue to monitor the air quality and make further decisions as needed.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government ministry responsible for environmental, forestry, and climate change issues.
CAQM SubCommittee on GRAP: Sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) focusing on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
StageI of the extant schedule of GRAP: Refers to the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan, which outlines measures to be taken based on air quality levels.
NCR: National Capital Region; the area where Stage I of GRAP is revoked.
23 MAY 2025: Date of the press release announcing the revocation of Stage I GRAP.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi; the source of the press release.
Air Quality Index: A metric for reporting daily air quality.
AQI: Abbreviation for Air Quality Index.
Central Pollution Control Board: A governmental organization responsible for pollution control.
CPCB: Abbreviation for Central Pollution Control Board.
IITM IMD: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and India Meteorological Department (IMD); providers of meteorological weather forecasts.
Graded Response Action Plan: Plan outlining actions to be taken based on air quality levels.
GRAP: Abbreviation for Graded Response Action Plan.
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas: Organization responsible for managing air quality in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas.
CAQM: Abbreviation for Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
DelhiNCR: Delhi and the National Capital Region.
State Govts.GNCTD: State Governments and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
MoEFCC: Abbreviation for Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Pollution Control BoardsDPCC: Pollution Control Boards and Delhi Pollution Control Committee
IMD IITM: India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology; providers of weather forecasts.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP revokes Stage-I of
the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR with
immediate effect
Posted On: 23 MAY 2025 7:02PM by PIB Delhi
Today, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) of the day clocked 129 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In view of significant improvement in the daily average AQI of
Delhi and also considering the meteorological/ weather forecasts by IITM/ IMD, the Sub-Committee on
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and
Adjoining Areas (CAQM) met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region and accordingly
take an appropriate decision on the actions under Stage-I of the extant schedule of GRAP in place in the entire
National Capital Region (NCR) since 21.05.2025. While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality
parameters of Delhi-NCR and other aspects, the Sub-Committee observed as under:
AQI of Delhi has shown significant improvement due to favorable meteorological conditions
(cid:108)
prevailing in Delhi-NCR. The AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 129 for 23.05.2025 (in
‘Moderate’ category). Further, the forecast by IMD/IITM also predicts AQI to mainly remain in
‘Moderate’ category in coming days.
Therefore, keeping in view this trend of improvement in the AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by
IMD/ IITM indicating the average air quality of Delhi to stay in ‘Moderate’ category in the coming
days (for which forecast is available), the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP unanimously decided to
revoke Stage-I of the extant schedule of GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.
All the agencies of the concerned State Govts./GNCTD in the NCR, in an effort to sustain the better
AQI levels as being experienced currently and not to let the air quality slip to the ‘Poor’ category,
however need to ensure that all statutory directions, advisories, orders etc. issued by the
Commission are followed and implemented in right earnest, including the rules/ regulations/
guidelines issued by MoE&FCC and the Central Pollution Control Board and related instructions/
guidelines issued by the respective State Govts./GNCTD and Pollution Control Boards/DPCC,
across all contributing sectors.
In this context, all the agencies concerned are also required to take note of various actions and the
targeted timelines as envisaged in the comprehensive policy issued by the Commission to curb air
pollution in the NCR and take appropriate actions accordingly in the field, particularly the dust
mitigation measures.
The Sub-Committee, shall be keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the
situation from time to time for further appropriate decision depending upon the air quality in Delhi
and forecast made available by IMD/ IITM.
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VM/GS
(Release ID: 2130817)