**Executive Summary**
This report, prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1170, concerning air quality monitoring stations and related measures. The response, due on December 8, 2025, provides details on the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR, the steps taken to improve air quality, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), and the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The report includes annexures providing specific AQI data, details on amendments to GRAP, and a list of air quality monitoring stations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Air Quality in Delhi-NCR:**
* AQI levels for Delhi during November 2025 are provided in Annexure I.
* Delhi's air quality has improved, with good days (AQI < 200) increasing from 110 in 2016 to 200 in 2025.
* Very poor (AQI: 301-400) and severe days (AQI > 401) have decreased from 71 in 2024 to 50 in 2025.
* Delhi observed the lowest average AQI in the past 8 years (2018-2025), excluding 2020 (COVID lockdown).
* **Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):**
* CAQM established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
* CAQM aims for better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of air pollution problems in Delhi-NCR.
* CAQM has issued 95 statutory Directions and 17 Advisories to stakeholders for air pollution control.
* CAQM enforces stringent emission norms and monitors implementation.
* **Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):**
* GRAP provides emergency response actions based on air pollution severity.
* Actions are implemented by identified agencies to minimize air pollution, especially during peak winter months.
* GRAP stages are invoked based on dynamic models and weather forecasts from IMD/IITM.
* Amendments to GRAP are detailed in Annexure II, with Stage II measures now under Stage I, Stage III under Stage II, and Stage IV under Stage III.
* **Government Review and Actions:**
* Regular review meetings have been held by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
* Inter-Ministerial meetings address crop residue burning.
* Initiatives include evacuation of construction dust, organizing 'Sewa Saptah', FASTag/ANPR cameras, waste management plans, road repairs, and increased green cover.
* **National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):**
* NCAP launched in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 cities across 24 States/UTs.
* State Pollution Control Boards install monitoring stations according to CPCB criteria.
* Details of air quality monitoring stations under NCAP are in Annexure III.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central and State Governments**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for implementing and enforcing measures to control air pollution. They must ensure effective coordination between various agencies and departments.
* **Action Required:** Central and State Governments need to coordinate and implement measures prescribed by CAQM and GRAP, allocate necessary funds for air pollution mitigation, and ensure compliance with emission norms.
**Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):**
* **Impact:** Strengthened regulatory power.
* **Action Required:** CAQM needs to continue to enforce emission norms, monitor progress, and issue directives for air pollution control.
**Pollution Control Boards:**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for monitoring ambient air quality and reporting to authorities.
* **Action Required:** Pollution Control Boards need to install and maintain monitoring stations and provide reliable data.
**Stakeholders (industries, construction sites, citizens)**
* **Impact:** Affected by CAQM directives and GRAP regulations
* **Action Required:** Comply with emission norms and pollution control measures as mandated by CAQM and follow directives for minimizing polluting activities.
**Government of NCT Delhi:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing mitigation measures.
* **Action Required:** Expedite the use of funds for air pollution mitigation measures and implement initiatives agreed upon in review meetings.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Established to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 cities.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of emergency response actions based on the severity of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for environmental issues, including air quality, and for initiatives like NCAP.
Delhi-NCR: The geographic area where air pollution is being addressed by policies and programs mentioned in the document.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1170
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Air Quality Monitoring Stations
1170. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the details of Air Quality Index (AQI) of National Capital Territory of Delhi since
the last one month, city-wise;
(b) whether the AQI of National Capital Region (NCR) of India are in a toxic level;
(c) the details of steps taken by Central and State Governments to check such alarming
situation;
(d) whether the Government has announced National Clean Air Programme;
(e) if so, the list of the cities along with number of manual/continuous air quality
monitoring stations currently installed and proposed to be installed under the said
programme; and
(f) the timeline for installing such manual/continuous air quality monitoring stations in
various cities along with the budgetary allocations made in this regard, city-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (f) : The AQI levels of Delhi during the month of November, 2025, is enclosed at
Annexure I.
With coordinated efforts, number of good days (AQI<200) in Delhi has increased to 200 days
in 2025 from 110 days in 2016. While there is an overall improvement in the AQI this year,
very poor days (AQI: 301-400) and severe days (AQI more than 401) have reduced from 71
days in 2024 to 50 days in 2025. Delhi has observed lowest average AQI in the past 8 years
i.e., from 2018 to 2025 (barring 2020 – COVID lockdown).
To address air pollution in Delhi-NCR, Government has established the Commission for Air
Quality Management (CAQM) under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR
and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 for better coordination, research, identification and resolution
of problems of air pollution in Delhi- NCR and adjoining areas. CAQM has been provided
powers under the Act to take measures and issue directions to the various agencies in the
National Capital Region for protecting and improving air quality. So far, CAQM has issued
95 statutory Directions and 17 Advisories to concerned stakeholders for control of air
pollution in Delhi NCR.CAQM has come up with much stringent emission norms for various polluting activities in
NCR, as compared to the national standards. These directions are rigorously monitored for
implementation through periodic progress reviews, issuing subsequent orders and directions
from time to time.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been prepared, which provides set of emergency
response actions, depending on severity of air pollution levels, and implemented by
identified agencies for minimizing air pollution, a situation that generally persists in the
Delhi-NCR during the peak winter months.
Based on the dynamic model and weather forecast provided by IMD (Indian Meteorological
Department) / IITM (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology) on a day-to-day basis,
actions under Stages I, II, III and IV of the GRAP are invoked in advance in anticipation of
the AQI of Delhi reaching to the projected levels of that stage based on the overall
meteorological conditions and anthropogenic activities.
CAQM has recently conducted comprehensive review of the contours of the existing GRAP
and made the actions more stringent under the various stages of the GRAP. Details of recent
amendments in GRAP are enclosed at Annexure II.
The Government has regularly reviewed and monitored the actions taken to address air
pollution including stubble burning related issues in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas. Some of
the recent key meetings are as below:
i. Regular review meetings have been held on 08.08.2025, 16.09.2025, 10.10.2025,
11.11.2025 and 03.12.2025 under the chairmanship of the Hon’ble Minister for
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the issues relating to air pollution control
in Delhi-NCR, to deliberate upon the undertaking of air pollution abatement measures
and strategies for further strengthening air quality management across the region;
ii. Minister level Inter-Ministerial meeting was held on 07.10.2025 under the Co-
chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and
Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on the issues of management of
Crop Residue Burning.
In the aforesaid review meetings, it was agreed that Govt. of NCT Delhi to utilise the funds in
expeditious manner to implement air pollution mitigation measures along with other important
measures such as awarding work for evacuation of construction dust and drainage silt,
organising ‘Sewa Saptah’ at all ward of Municipal Corporation of GNCTD and NCR States,
implementation of FASTag and ANPR cameras at all tolls points for restriction of the entry
of banned commercial vehicles, prepare integrated waste collection and management plan,
identification and repair of stretches with potholes, end-to-end pavement of roads, feeder
centres for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste processing facility, steps to improve
the offtake of recycled products from C&D waste, monitoring of large construction sites,
mechanised road sweeping for roads with 20-60 ft as well as roads <20 ft wide, decongestion
of 62 identified traffic congestion points in Delhi, increasing the green cover along Yamuna
flood plains, time bound action plan for plantation of 1 crore trees under ‘Ek Ped Maa ke
Naam’, installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air
Pollution Control Devices (APCD) in all air polluting industries in a time bound manner.National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been launched by Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 cities
(non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by engaging all stakeholders.
Concerned State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees install Monitoring
Stations to collect ambient air quality, in line with the criteria issued by the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB). Details of air quality monitoring stations in the cities under NCAP,
are enclosed at Annexure III.Annexure I
AQI levels in Delhi from 1st November, 2025 to 30th November, 2025
Date AQI
1 November 2025 303
2 November 2025 366
3 November 2025 309
4 November 2025 291
5 November 2025 202
6 November 2025 311
7 November 2025 322
8 November 2025 361
9 November 2025 370
10 November 2025 362
11 November 2025 428
12 November 2025 418
13 November 2025 404
14 November 2025 387
15 November 2025 386
16 November 2025 377
17 November 2025 351
18 November 2025 374
19 November 2025 392
20 November 2025 391
21 November 2025 364
22 November 2025 370
23 November 2025 391
24 November 2025 382
25 November 2025 353
26 November 2025 327
27 November 2025 377
28 November 2025 369
29 November 2025 305
30 November 2025 279Annexure II
Details of amendments made to Graded Response Plan (GRAP) by CAQM on 21.11.2025
The Commission has issued the following amendments in the schedule of GRAP:
A. The following measures currently under GRAP Stage II to be taken under GRAP Stage I:
(1). Ensure uninterrupted power supply to discourage use of alternate power Generating sets/
equipment (DG sets etc.)
(2). Synchronize traffic movements and deploy adequate personnel at intersections / traffic
congestion points for smooth flow of traffic.
(3). Alert in newspapers / TV / radio to advise people about air pollution levels and Do’s and
Don’ts for minimizing polluting activities
(4). Augment public transport services through CNG/ electric buses and metro services by
inducting additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service. Introduce differential
rates to encourage off – peak travel.
B. The following measures currently under GRAP Stage III to be taken under GRAP Stage II:
(1). (i) GNCTD and NCR State Governments to stagger timings for public offices and municipal
bodies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad,
Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
(ii) State Governments may take a decision to stagger timings for public offices and
municipal bodies in other areas of NCR.
(2). Central Government may take a decision on staggering of timings of Central Government
offices in Delhi – NCR.
C. The following measures currently under GRAP Stage IV to be taken under GRAP Stage III:
(1). NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and
private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.
(2). Central Government may take appropriate decision on permitting work from home for
employees in central government offices.Annexure-III
Details of ambient air quality monitoring stations in 130 cities of NCAP
Number of Stations
Sr.
State City Continuous Manual
no. Total
(CAAQMS)
1 Andhra Pradesh Anantapur 1 4 5
2 Andhra Pradesh Chitoor 1 5 6
3 Andhra Pradesh Eluru 0 4 4
4 Andhra Pradesh Guntur 0 4 4
5 Andhra Pradesh Kadapa 1 5 6
6 Andhra Pradesh Kurnool 0 4 4
7 Andhra Pradesh Nellore 0 4 4
8 Andhra Pradesh Ongole 0 4 4
9 Andhra Pradesh Rajahmundry 1 4 5
10 Andhra Pradesh Srikakulam 0 4 4
11 Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada UA 5 9 14
12 Andhra Pradesh Visakhapatnam UA 1 9 10
13 Andhra Pradesh Vizianagaram 0 4 4
14 Assam Guwahati 4 8 12
15 Assam Nagaon 1 3 4
16 Assam Nalbari 1 3 4
17 Assam Sibsagar 0 0 0
18 Assam Silchar 1 3 4
19 Bihar Gaya 3 1 4
20 Bihar Muzaffarpur 3 1 4
21 Bihar Patna UA 6 2 8
22 Chandigarh Chandigarh 3 5 8
23 Chhattisgarh Durg Bhilainagar UA 3 4 7
24 Chhattisgarh Korba 2 3 5
25 Chhattisgarh Raipur UA 4 6 10
26 Delhi Delhi 39 7 46
27 Gujarat Ahmedabad UA 9 9 18
28 Gujarat Rajkot UA 0 3 3
29 Gujarat Surat UA 1 3 4
30 Gujarat Vadodara UA 0 3 3
31 Haryana Faridabad UA 4 2 6
32 Himachal Pradesh Baddi 1 3 4
33 Himachal Pradesh Damtal 0 2 2
34 Himachal Pradesh Kala Amb 0 2 2
35 Himachal Pradesh Nalagarh 0 1 1
36 Himachal Pradesh Paonta Sahib 0 2 2
37 Himachal Pradesh Parwanoo 0 2 2
38 Himachal Pradesh Sunder Nagar 0 2 2
39 Jammu & Kashmir Jammu 0 6 6
40 Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar 1 4 541 Jharkhand Dhanbad UA 2 3 5
42 Jharkhand Jamshedpur UA 0 2 2
43 Jharkhand Ranchi UA 0 1 1
44 Karnataka Bruhat Bangalore UA 14 9 23
45 Karnataka Devanagere 1 3 4
46 Karnataka Gulburga 2 1 3
47 Karnataka Hubli-Dharwad 3 2 5
48 Madhya Pradesh Bhopal UA 3 8 11
49 Madhya Pradesh Dewas 1 3 4
50 Madhya Pradesh Gwalior UA 4 3 7
51 Madhya Pradesh Indore UA 6 3 9
52 Madhya Pradesh Jabalpur UA 4 2 6
53 Madhya Pradesh Sagar 2 2 4
54 Madhya Pradesh Ujjain 1 4 5
55 Maharashtra Akola 1 3 4
56 Maharashtra Amravati 2 3 5
57 Maharashtra Aurangabad UA 3 4 7
58 Maharashtra Chandrapur 2 6 8
59 Maharashtra Jalgaon 1 3 4
60 Maharashtra Jalna 1 2 3
61 Maharashtra Kolhapur 2 3 5
62 Maharashtra Latur 1 3 4
63 Maharashtra Greater Mumbai (GM) UA 30 0 30
64 Maharashtra Badlapur GM UA 1 1 2
65 Maharashtra Navi Mumbai GM UA 8 6 14
66 Maharashtra Thane GM UA 2 3 5
67 Maharashtra Ulhasnagar GM UA 1 2 3
68 Maharashtra Nagpur UA 4 4 8
69 Maharashtra Nashik UA 4 4 8
70 Maharashtra Pune UA 13 3 16
71 Maharashtra Sangli 1 3 4
72 Maharashtra Solapur 3 2 5
73 Maharashtra Vasai-Virar City UA 1 0 1
74 Meghalaya Byrnihat 1 1 2
75 Nagaland Dimapur 0 7 7
76 Nagaland Kohima 1 3 4
77 Odisha Angul 1 3 4
78 Odisha Balasore 1 3 4
79 Odisha Bhubaneswar 2 6 8
80 Odisha Cuttack 1 3 4
81 Odisha Kalinga Nagar 0 3 3
82 Odisha Rourkela 3 4 7
83 Odisha Talcher 1 3 4
84 Punjab Amritsar UA 1 2 3
85 Punjab Dera Bassi 0 2 2
86 Punjab Gobindgarh 0 0 087 Punjab Jalandhar 1 4 5
88 Punjab Khanna 1 2 3
89 Punjab Ludhiana UA 1 4 5
90 Punjab Naya Nangal 0 2 2
91 Punjab Pathankot/Dera Baba Nanak 0 2 2
92 Punjab Patiala 1 3 4
93 Rajasthan Alwar 1 3 4
94 Rajasthan Jaipur UA 6 9 15
95 Rajasthan Jodhpur UA 5 9 14
96 Rajasthan Kota UA 3 6 9
97 Rajasthan Udaipur 1 3 4
98 Tamilnadu Chennai UA 9 8 17
99 Tamilnadu Madurai UA 1 3 4
100 Tamilnadu Tuticorn/Thoothukudi 1 3 4
101 Tamilnadu Trichy UA 1 5 6
102 Telangana Hyderabad (HY) UA 14 7 21
103 Telangana Nalgonda 0 2 2
104 Telangana Sangareddy 0 3 3
105 Uttar Pradesh Agra UA 6 6 12
106 Uttar Pradesh Allahabad UA 3 5 8
107 Uttar Pradesh Anpara 0 2 2
108 Uttar Pradesh Bareily 2 2 4
109 Uttar Pradesh Firozabad 2 3 5
110 Uttar Pradesh Gajraula 0 2 2
111 Uttar Pradesh Ghaziabad UA 4 4 8
112 Uttar Pradesh Gorakhpur 1 3 4
113 Uttar Pradesh Jhansi 1 2 3
114 Uttar Pradesh Kanpur UA 4 9 13
115 Uttar Pradesh Khurja 1 2 3
116 Uttar Pradesh Lucknow UA 7 8 15
117 Uttar Pradesh Meerut UA 3 2 5
118 Uttar Pradesh Moradabad 7 2 9
119 Uttar Pradesh Noida 4 4 8
120 Uttar Pradesh Raebareli 0 3 3
121 Uttar Pradesh Varanasi UA 4 5 9
122 Uttarakhand Dehradun 1 3 4
123 Uttarakhand Kashipur 1 3 4
124 Uttarakhand Rishikesh 1 3 4
125 West Bengal Asansol UA 4 5 9
126 West Bengal Durgapur 3 4 7
127 West Bengal Haldia 1 4 5
128 West Bengal Barrackpore (K) UA 1 5 6
129 West Bengal Howrah (K) UA 5 5 10
130 West Bengal Kolkata (K) UA 7 18 25
Total 351 487 838
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