GRAP explained: the four stages of Delhi NCR's pollution plan and what each one restricts

GRAP, the Graded Response Action Plan, is the list of emergency measures Delhi NCR takes when air pollution rises. The worse the air, the higher the stage: Stage I for "poor" air (AQI 201 to 300), Stage II for "very poor" (301 to 400), Stage III for "severe" (401 to 450) and Stage IV for "severe plus" (above 450). The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invokes each stage, and the measures of the lower stages stay in force when a higher one starts.

Who made GRAP and who enforces it?

GRAP was drawn up in 2017 on the Supreme Court's direction. Since 2021 it has been run by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM). A sub-committee of the commission reviews air quality and the weather department's forecasts every day and decides when a stage starts or ends.

Stages are now often invoked in advance. If forecasts show the AQI could reach a higher band in the next two or three days, the commission can bring in that stage early. In 2024 the Supreme Court also asked that Stage III start without delay once the AQI crosses 350, and Stage IV once it crosses 400.

What does each AQI band mean?

The Central Pollution Control Board's national AQI puts air quality into six bands:

AQI	Band	GRAP
0 to 50	Good	No stage
51 to 100	Satisfactory	No stage
101 to 200	Moderate	No stage
201 to 300	Poor	Stage I
301 to 400	Very poor	Stage II
401 to 450	Severe	Stage III
Above 450	Severe plus	Stage IV

What is restricted at each stage?

The full list is in CAQM's order, and the commission revises it from time to time. In November 2025 it moved several measures to earlier stages, so check the order in force before you plan around a restriction. In past orders, the stages have broadly looked like this.

Stage I: poor air

Stricter dust control at construction sites, a ban on burning garbage and leaves in the open, checks on pollution-under-control (PUC) certificates and fines for visibly polluting vehicles. Cities also step up road sprinkling and mechanised sweeping.

Stage II: very poor air

Limits on diesel generators except for essential services, higher parking fees to discourage private cars, and more metro and bus services. The current schedule has moved some of these measures into Stage I.

Stage III: severe air

BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are barred in Delhi and several NCR districts. Non-essential construction and demolition stop. Classes up to Class 5 can move to a hybrid mode, and government office timings can be staggered.

Stage IV: severe plus air

Trucks are stopped from entering Delhi unless they carry essential goods or run on CNG, electricity or BS-VI diesel. Public construction such as highways and flyovers also stops. State governments can decide on work from home for half of office staff and online classes in schools.

Where can I check today's AQI and GRAP stage?

• The CPCB air quality portal and the SAMEER app show hourly AQI for every monitoring station.
• The CAQM website publishes the orders that invoke and revoke each stage.
• Our Delhi NCR news and weather pages carry GRAP updates as they come in.

How can I protect myself on bad air days?

When the AQI is above 300, skip morning and evening walks and outdoor exercise, as pollution is often highest at those hours. If you must go out, wear a well-fitted N95 or N99 mask; cloth masks do not stop fine PM2.5 particles. Children, older people, pregnant women and anyone with asthma or heart disease should take extra care and see a doctor if they feel breathless or tight in the chest.