**Executive Summary**
The 28th meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), held on May 15, 2026, focused on reviewing and approving critical measures to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Key outcomes include the approval of draft directions for the complete elimination of paddy stubble burning in 2026, a phased transition to electric 3-wheelers starting January 2027, and a mandatory PUCC requirement for vehicle refueling effective October 1, 2026. The Commission also emphasized the expansion of air quality monitoring networks and strict enforcement against non-compliant industrial and power plant units.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Vehicular Emission Control Measures**
* **Mandatory EV Transition:** Draft Direction No. 100 mandates registration of only Electric 3-Wheelers (L5 category) in Delhi (w.e.f. 01.01.2027), High Vehicle Density districts (w.e.f. 01.01.2028), and remaining NCR districts (w.e.f. 01.01.2029).
* **Fueling Restrictions:** Draft Direction No. 101 prohibits dispensing fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) across the entire NCR, effective October 1, 2026.
* **Environment Compensation Charge (ECC):** Implementation of revised ECC rates for goods vehicles entering Delhi, following Supreme Court approval.
* **Crop Residue Management**
* **Paddy Stubble Elimination:** Draft Direction No. 99 targets the 100% elimination of paddy stubble burning in NCR States for the 2026 season.
* **Enforcement on Wheat Burning:** Directed strict enforcement by State Governments following a reported spike in wheat stubble burning incidents in Punjab (8,986 incidents) and Haryana (3,290 incidents) between April and May 2026.
* **Monitoring and Infrastructure**
* **CAAQMS Expansion:** The network of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations will be increased by 46 additional stations, bringing the total to 157 across Delhi-NCR.
* **Digital Oversight:** A new digital MIS portal is being developed to track the implementation of Annual Action Plans.
* **Committee Reconstitution:** The Sub-Committee on ‘Monitoring and Identification’ has been reconstituted to strengthen regional compliance mechanisms.
* **Industrial and Environmental Targets**
* **Thermal Power Plants (TPPs):** Environmental compensation exceeding Rs. 61.85 crore has been imposed on six non-compliant TPPs for failing to meet biomass co-firing targets.
* **Industrial Fuels:** The relaxation allowing alternative fuels in industries has been extended until June 13, 2026.
* **Plantation Goals:** A target of 4.60 crore plantations (trees, shrubs, and bamboo) has been set for 2026-27 across NCR States and educational institutions.
**Impact Analysis**
**NCR State Governments and Agencies (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan)**
**Impact**
They are held accountable for the implementation of State-specific Action Plans and the expansion of monitoring infrastructure.
**Action Required**
Must ensure strict enforcement of stubble burning bans, meet 2026-27 plantation targets, and expedite the installation of remaining CAAQMS stations.
**Vehicle Owners and 3-Wheeler Operators**
**Impact**
Faced with mandatory technology transitions and stricter refueling requirements.
**Action Required**
3-wheeler owners must transition to electric models according to the phased schedule (2027-2029). All vehicle owners must maintain a valid PUCC to access fuel starting October 1, 2026.
**Thermal Power Plants and Industrial Units**
**Impact**
Under increased scrutiny for biomass co-firing and fuel compliance, with significant financial penalties for violations.
**Action Required**
Thermal Power Plants must achieve biomass co-firing targets to avoid further compensation charges. Industrial units must transition to the standard list of approved fuels by June 13, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR (CAQM): The primary regulatory body responsible for reviewing and issuing directions to prevent and control air pollution in the region.
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021: The governing legislation under which the Commission issues binding directions and exercises its statutory powers for air quality management.
Delhi-NCR: The central geographical and jurisdictional scope of the policy, encompassing Delhi and districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): The critical emergency response framework used to manage and mitigate air pollution levels in the region through various stages of intervention.
Environment (Utilisation of Crop Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023: The regulatory framework used to impose environmental compensation and penalties on non-compliant thermal power plants regarding biomass co-firing.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM’s 28th Full Commission Meeting reviews
Key agenda items pertaining to Prevention and
Control of Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR
Posted On: 15 MAY 2026 4:55PM by PIB Delhi
The 28th meeting of the full Commission of Air Quality Management in Delhi-NCR (CAQM) was held on
15.05.2026, under the Chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Verma. Key agenda items pertaining to prevention and
control of air pollution in Delhi-NCR were deliberated upon and reviewed in detail during the meeting.
The Commission approved issuance of Draft Direction No. 99 under Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021
regarding implementation of the Action Plan for prevention and control of paddy stubble burning in 2026
with a target of complete elimination of paddy stubble burning in the NCR States. The Commission noted
that State Governments have prepared and updated State-specific Action Plans for the paddy harvest
season-2026 in line with the broad framework provided by CAQM.
The Commission also approved issuance of Draft Direction No. 100 mandating registration of only
Electric 3-Wheelers (Passenger and Goods) of L5 category in Delhi-NCR in a phased manner as part of
sustained efforts towards cleaner mobility and reduction in vehicular emissions in the region. The
Commission noted that the recent Report of Air Quality Experts identified the vehicular sector as one of
the major contributors to PM emissions in Delhi-NCR and emphasized accelerated transition towards
2.5
cleaner mobility. The Expert Committee constituted by the Commission in December, 2025 has also given
interim report on 3 Wheelers recommending transition of 3-Wheelers to EV. The Commission accordingly
mandated registration of only EV 3-wheelers of L5 category w.e.f. 01.01.2027 in Delhi, w.e.f. 01.01.2028
in adjoining High Vehicle Density (HVD) districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Gautam
Buddha Nagar and w.e.f. 01.01.2029 in remaining Districts of NCR.
Further, Draft Direction No. 101 imposing restrictions on fuelling of vehicles without valid Pollution
Under Control Certificate (PUCC) in NCR was deliberated upon and approved by the Commission. The
Direction envisages dispensing of fuel only upon production of valid PUCC w.e.f. 01.10.2026 in the entire
NCR for controlling vehicular emissions contributing significantly to PM , NOx and CO levels.
2.5
The Commission reviewed the sudden spikes in incidents of wheat stubble burning incidents and directed
the concerned State Governments and agencies for strict enforcement. The Commission noted that from
01.04.2026 to 14.05.2026, a total of 8,986 incidents have been reported in Punjab as compared to 6,474
incidents recorded during the corresponding period of 2025, whereas Haryana reported 3,290 incidents
during this period as compared to 1,503 incidents recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
The Commission also reviewed the progress of strengthening of the Continuous Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) network across Delhi-NCR. The Commission noted that under the
revised norms, one monitoring station is envisaged per 25 sq. km. (5 km. x 5 km. grid) for Delhi and
contiguous cities (Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat) and one station
per 50 sq. km. in other district headquarters and cities. A total of 46 additional CAAQMS are proposed tobe installed across Delhi-NCR (14 in Delhi, 16 in Haryana, 15 in Uttar Pradesh and 01 in Rajasthan),
taking the total number of monitoring stations to 157. The Commission emphasized expeditious
installation of the remaining stations by the concerned NCR States.
Reconstitution of the Sub-Committee on ‘Monitoring and Identification’ under Section 11(2) of the
CAQM Act, 2021 was ratified by the Commission for further strengthening monitoring and compliance
mechanisms in the region.
The Commission appreciated the initiatives undertaken by NCR State Governments and GNCTD for
preparation and implementation of Annual Action Plans-2026 aimed at abatement of air pollution across
various sectors including transport, industry, dust mitigation, waste management, crop residue
management and enhanced air quality monitoring. The Commission also noted that a digital MIS portal is
being developed by CAQM for monitoring implementation of actions under the Annual Action Plans.
The Commission also reviewed greening and plantation targets fixed for the year 2026-27 for NCR States
and NCT of Delhi and stressed upon regular follow-up and effective implementation for achieving the
stipulated targets. The Commission noted that an overall plantation target of about 4.60 crore trees, shrubs
and bamboo plantations has been fixed for the year 2026-27 across NCR States, CAPFs and educational
institutions (58.01 Lakh for Delhi, 1.71 Crore for Uttar Pradesh-NCR, 1.20 Crore for Haryana-NCR, 1.07
Crore for Rajasthan-NCR, 80,000 for CAPFs and 2.56 Lakh for Educational/Research
Institutes/Universities & KVS).
Status of penalties imposed on Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for non-achievement of biomass co-firing
targets during 2024-25, along with appeals and conditional stay orders granted by the Hon’ble NGT, was
also reviewed by the Commission. Environmental Compensation amounting to over Rs. 61.85 crore has
been imposed on six non-compliant Thermal Power Plants under the Environment (Utilisation of Crop
Residue by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023.
The Commission took note of the extension of relaxation in the Standard List of Approved Fuels
stipulated under Direction No. 65 dated 23.06.2022, as amended, allowing use of alternative fuels in
industries till 13.06.2026 or until further orders.
The Commission also took note of the Order dated 12.03.2026 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
the M.C. Mehta Case regarding implementation of revised Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on
Goods Vehicles entering Delhi. The Commission noted that the recommendations submitted by CAQM for
revision of ECC rates were approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court as reasonable, just and fair.
The Commission reviewed the GRAP orders issued since the last Full Commission meeting dated
20.02.2026 and was apprised of the invocation and revocation of different stages of the Graded Response
Action Plan (GRAP) based on prevailing air quality scenario in Delhi-NCR.
The framework for targeted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities issued by CAQM
on 03.03.2026 for NCR States and GNCTD for abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR was also
reviewed by the Commission. The framework envisages sustained engagement with sector-specific
stakeholders and intensified IEC campaigns throughout the year.
The Commission further reviewed the status of Enforcement Task Force (ETF) decisions, closures and
resumption of industrial units for ensuring compliance with Statutory Directions and environmental
norms. As on 08.05.2026, a total of 27,008 sites had been inspected by flying squads and closure
directions have been issued in 1,779 cases across sectors including industries, C&D sites and
miscellaneous categories.CAQM reiterated the need for strict enforcement of directions issued and directed all concerned agencies
and NCR State Governments to make concerted efforts for effective implementation of Annual Action
Plans and sectoral actions for combating air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
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VM
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