**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to a starred question in Lok Sabha regarding the impact of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, scheduled to be answered on December 1, 2025. It outlines measures taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to address air pollution, including the implementation and amendment of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The document also highlights key meetings and directions issued to various agencies.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):**
* Established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
* Empowered to take measures and issue directions to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
* Issued 95 Statutory Directions to guide actions towards air pollution abatement.
* Implements stringent emission norms for polluting activities, monitored through periodic reviews.
* Prepares Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for emergency response actions based on pollution levels.
* Based on forecasts, actions under Stages I, II, III and IV of the GRAP are invoked in advance based on projected AQI levels.
* **Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Amendments (as of November 21, 2025):**
* **GRAP Stage I:** Includes measures previously under Stage II, such as ensuring uninterrupted power supply, synchronizing traffic, alerting the public through media, and augmenting public transport.
* **GRAP Stage II:** Includes measures previously under Stage III, such as staggering timings for public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi-NCR.
* **GRAP Stage III:** Includes measures previously under Stage IV, such as allowing public, municipal, and private offices to work with 50% strength, encouraging work from home.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Regular review meetings on air pollution control held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
* Minister-level Inter-Ministerial meeting on Crop Residue Burning held.
* Directions for utilization of funds for air pollution mitigation measures by Govt. of NCT Delhi.
* Provided critical gap funding under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to NCT of Delhi.
* **Actions by NCT Delhi and NDMC:**
* Implementing activities for funds utilisation, including procurement of road sweeping machines, end-to-end paving of roads, and greening of traffic corridors.
* Initiated procurement of anti-smog guns.
* **Monitoring and Dissemination:**
* Centralized air quality portal and mobile app-SAMEER functional for tracking and disseminating air quality data.
* CPCB issues a daily bulletin comprising AQI of various cities.
* PRANA portal operationalized for managing and monitoring the progress of implementation of activities implemented by 130 targeted cities under NCAP.
* **Air Quality Improvement:**
* The number of good days in Delhi has increased.
* Very poor and severe days have reduced.
* Delhi has observed the lowest average AQI in the past 8 years (excluding 2020).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Government of NCT Delhi
**Impact:**
* Expected to implement air pollution mitigation measures expeditiously.
* Required to utilize funds to procure equipment for end-to-end maintenance and greening of roads.
**Action Required:**
* Implement directions issued regarding air pollution mitigation.
* Utilize allocated funds for the procurement of equipment.
**Stakeholder:** Central Government Ministries (Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare)
**Impact:**
* Continue overseeing and coordinating efforts to address air pollution.
* Required to provide resources and guidance to relevant agencies.
**Action Required:**
* Conduct regular review meetings.
* Coordinate on issues related to crop residue burning.
**Stakeholder:** Public in Delhi-NCR
**Impact:**
* Affected by air pollution levels and the implementation of GRAP.
* Benefits from initiatives aimed at improving air quality.
**Action Required:**
* Stay informed about air pollution levels through SAMEER and other sources.
* Adhere to guidelines and advisories issued during GRAP stages.
**Stakeholder:** NCR State Governments
**Impact:**
* Affected by directions to implement GRAP, specifically actions such as staggering timings for public offices.
**Action Required:**
* Implement the GRAP directions.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of emergency response actions to be implemented depending on severity of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
Delhi-NCR: National Capital Region of Delhi; the geographical area to which the air pollution policies discussed apply.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The government ministry responsible for addressing air pollution issues.
National Clean Air Program (NCAP): A program providing gap funding and leveraging resources for air pollution mitigation measures.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 13
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Impact of Air Pollution
*13. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the alarming levels of air pollution in UT of Delhi
and its adverse impact on public health, particularly during the winter months;
(b) whether the Delhi Government has adequately utilized funds and resources provided by
the Central Government for pollution control measures and if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons for underutilization of fund and whether any accountability measures
have been initiated and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether lack of effective and sustainable policies by the said Government has contributed
to the worsening air quality, if so, the corrective measures taken by the Central
Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)
(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 13 DUE FOR REPLY ON 01.12.2025 REGARDING
IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION BY DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO, HON’BLE MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT.
(a) to (d): 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. Commission 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.
The Commission has addressed the issue of air pollution in Delhi-NCR in a collective,
collaborative and participative mode involving all the major stakeholders. The Commission has
so far issued 95 Statutory Directions to specifically guide and direct various actions towards
abatement of air pollution in the region. A monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation
of these directions has been put in place.
Commission 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.
Commission has prepared Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which provides set of
emergency response actions, depending on severity of air pollution levels, to be 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.
The Commission 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 I.
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 and
11.11.2025 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 review meeting, the following was directed. Govt. of NCT Delhi to utilise the funds inexpeditious 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.
NCT of Delhi has been provided a critical gap funding under National Clean Air Program (NCAP)
to take measures to improve air quality. To implement air pollution mitigation measures, NCAP
also leverages the mobilisation of resources through convergence of Central Government schemes
and programmes, such as, AMRUT 1.0 & 2.0, Swachh Bharat Mission 1.0 & 2.0, FAME II and
Grand Challenge Scheme.
Government of NCT Delhi has reported that they have started implementation of various activities
to utilise the funds for procurement of 14 Mechanical Road Sweeping (MRS), end- to-end paving
and pothole-free maintenance of roads and greening of traffic corridors, open areas, gardens,
community places, schools, and housing societies covering 2.6 ha which are at various stages.
Further, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has informed that they have initiated
procurement of four anti-smog guns on BS-VI CNG and seven modified anti-smog water guns for
high-rise buildings and road improvement works.
A centralised air quality portal and mobile app-SAMEER are functional for tracking and
dissemination of near real time air quality data and hourly Air Quality Index to the public. CPCB
issues a daily bulletin at 04:00 PM comprising AQI of various cities in the country including
Delhi-NCR. SAMEER app also serves as a grievance reddressal mechanism which allows the
citizens to report pollution related complaints for quick resolution by the concerned agencies.
PRANA- ‘Portal for Regulation of Air Pollution in Non-Attainment Cities’ has been
operationalised for managing and monitoring the progress of implementation of activities
implemented by 130 targeted cities under NCAP.
With coordinated efforts, number of good days (AQI<200) in Delhi have 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).
***Annexure I
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.
*****