Delhi NCR Air Pollution: Grap IV Restrictions Lifted
Air Quality Improves in Delhi-NCR, Stage IV Restrictions Lifted
Air Quality Betterment and GRAP Stage IV Withdrawal
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) withdrew Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, following improvements in air quality. This decision comes after a period of severe smog, as depicted in a photograph taken near India Gate in New Delhi on december 17, 2025, showing visitors walking amidst hazy conditions
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The CAQM reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi had considerably improved overnight due to high winds and favorable meteorological conditions, reaching a reading of 271, categorized as “poor” as of December 24th. Despite the lifting of Stage IV restrictions, GRAP Stages I, II, and III remain in effect.
Future Outlook and Cautions
While air quality has improved, the CAQM cautioned that these favorable conditions may not persist. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical meteorology (IITM) suggest a potential rise in AQI levels due to slower wind speeds in the coming days.