Delhi-NCR pollution curbs: GRAP Stage-II implemented ahead of Diwali – Here's what is allowed & what is not | Explained

Delhi-NCR has moved to Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as air pollution levels deteriorated sharply, with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking the 'Very Poor' air quality measures across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect on Monday, November 2.

The decision comes ahead of Diwali, as Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 324 on Monday, placing it in the 'Very Poor' category. The city's air quality had deteriorated from the 'Moderate' category on October 31, when the AQI stood at 117, to the 'Poor' category at 261 on November 1.

(This is a developing story. More to come)

Quick answers to key questions

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QUESTIONS

GRAP Stage-II brings in measures to curb air pollution when the AQI reaches the “Very Poor” category. The related article places this category in the AQI range of 301 to 400.

Delhi’s AQI rose to 324 on Monday, putting it in the “Very Poor” category. It had climbed from 117 on October 31 to 261 on November 1.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) decides whether to invoke Stage-II. Its decision is based on changing air quality and meteorological forecasts.

People with respiratory problems are advised to avoid going outdoors during periods of excessive pollution, particularly early in the morning and at night, and to use masks. People with chronic conditions should take their medicines regularly and seek medical advice if their health deteriorates.

About the Author

Garvit Bhirani is a journalist based in Gurugram. He is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers national and international news stories, focusing on accuracy and compelling storytelling for readers. <br><br> With a total of six years of experience in journalism, he has previously worked with Vaco Binary Semantics for Google, taking on the role of news curation lead, and reported from the field on health, education, and agriculture stories for 101reporters and News9. He has also served as a content editor for entertainment and news media organisations. <br><br> Garvit holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and mass communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Gurugram University, respectively. During college days, he joined India’s only non-profit student journalism network, where he anchored daily news updates and produced his own weekly show called ‘Data Fix’. <br><br> He was selected for the YES Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship in Delhi, the Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar residential workshop, and the VOICE Fellowship in Pune. <br><br> He holds certificates in COVID-19-verification reporting, data journalism, food & agriculture, tech policy, media literacy and countering misinformation, and tackling election disinformation courses from Thomson Foundation, IndiaSpend, The Dialogue, US Mission in India, and AFP. <br><br> He can be reached on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garvit-bhirani">LinkedIn</a> or on <a href="https://x.com/GarvitBhirani">@garvitbhirani</a> on X