The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has announced a revision in the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) today. The revised GRAP will come into force from the first of October this year and will be applicable to the entire NCR. The Environment Ministry stated that the GRAP for NCR was formulated after careful consideration of scientific data, stakeholder inputs, and expert recommendations. 

The revision is based on the experience and learnings from the previous year. The revised GRAP includes targeted actions to be taken by responsible agencies when the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi exceeds or is expected to exceed a certain threshold. The key revisions in the GRAP schedule include the enforcement of the National Green Tribunal or  Supreme Court's order on overaged diesel and petrol vehicles and as per extant statutes during   ‘Poor’ Air Quality.   In the case of  ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality,  remedial measures need to be intensified for the predominant sectors contributing to adverse air quality in each of such hotspots. During  ‘Severe’ Air Quality, NCR State governments will impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar. If air quality reaches ‘Severe ’, then NCR State governments might take a decision on discontinuing physical classes even for classes sixth to ninth, class 11th, and conduct lessons in an online mode.