Live NCR GRAP Monitor & AQI Tracker | Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida

Demystifying GRAP: A Comprehensive Guide to Delhi-NCR's Air Quality Framework

📅 Last Updated: May 31, 2026 ✍️ By: CAQM Environmental Research Team ⏱️ Read Time: 5 mins

Every winter, a toxic haze envelops the National Capital Region (NCR), affecting the health of over 46 million residents. To combat this seasonal air crisis, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) serves as the legal and operational framework for emergency mitigation.

The air pollution crisis in Northern India is a complex interplay of meteorological conditions and anthropogenic emissions. As temperatures drop and wind speeds decline, the region suffers from a severe atmospheric phenomenon known as temperature inversion. Warm air rises and traps cooler, denser air near the surface, keeping PM2.5 and PM10 particles locked over Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, and adjacent districts. Under these conditions, everyday emissions from vehicles, road dust, and industrial activities are amplified, turning the NCR into a stagnant pool of smog.

What Exactly is the GRAP Framework?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is an emergency response system formulated in 2017 following directives from the Supreme Court. It was created to institute automated, statutory actions depending on the severity of air quality. Unlike long-term environmental policies, GRAP is designed for immediate, short-term tactical intervention when the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaches specific critical thresholds.

Since 2021, the enforcement and monitoring of GRAP has been the sole mandate of the statutory Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The CAQM utilizes advanced meteorological models, satellite data, and continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) to proactively predict and invoke the necessary GRAP stages before severe smog sets in.

How are GRAP Stages Implemented?

The plan is divided into four distinct stages based on AQI values in the region, running from "Poor" (Stage I) up to the emergency "Severe+" (Stage IV). Each stage represents a progressive layer of restrictions:

Stage I (AQI 201-300): Focuses on dust suppression, mechanized sweeping, and strict waste-burning management.
Stage II (AQI 301-400): Implements strict rules on diesel generator usage and introduces measures like higher parking fees to deter the use of private transport.
Stage III (AQI 401-450): Bans older, highly-polluting private vehicles (specifically BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars) and halts all non-essential construction and demolition works.
Stage IV (AQI >450): Invokes emergency procedures, halting the entry of out-of-state trucks (except essentials), advising work-from-home regimes, and transitioning schools to remote learning.

CAQM GRAP Stage Thresholds & Triggers

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of stratified emergency measures implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) depending on the severity of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Stage	Classification	AQI Trigger Range	Key Enforcement Action
Stage I	Poor	201 – 300 AQI	Control road dust, ban open waste burning, restrict DG sets usage, and halt coal in tandoors.
Stage II	Very Poor	301 – 400 AQI	Ban non-essential DG sets, control pollution at high-impact hotspots, and increase parking fees to deter driving.
Stage III	Severe	401 – 450 AQI	Ban BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles, shut down all non-essential construction and demolition, and halt stone crushers.
Stage IV	Severe+	> 450 AQI	Ban entry of non-essential trucks, stop out-of-state diesel commercial vehicles, close schools, and invoke 50% office WFH.

Live NCR Citizen Health Advisory & Precautions

Highly recommended safety practices for all residents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, and surrounding areas to minimize exposure to toxic particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).

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Respiratory Protection

Wear certified N95 or FFP2 respirators when traveling outdoors. Standard cloth or surgical masks do not filter fine PM2.5 particles effectively.

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Indoor Air Care

Keep windows and doors closed. Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers indoors and avoid burning candles, incense, or wood.

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Exercise Limits

Avoid strenuous outdoor physical activities, running, or cycling during high AQI hours (especially in the early morning and late evening).

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Sensitive Groups

Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and asthma/COPD patients must stay strictly indoors and keep rescue medications readily accessible.

Citizen Action Checklist: Do Your Part

Combatting smog requires collective civic duty. Tick off the measures you are practicing to help clean the air in Delhi-NCR:

I use metro, public buses, or carpooling to reduce vehicular emissions. I strictly avoid open burning of dry leaves, plastics, or garden waste. I report illegal industrial emissions or garbage burning on local 311 / Sameer apps. I rely on power backups instead of running diesel generators wherever possible. I sprinkle water in my local immediate vicinity to suppress loose dust.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Find accurate, legal, and practical answers regarding the implementation and impact of GRAP in the NCR.

What exactly is GRAP and who is the CAQM?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is an emergency response mechanism designed specifically for the Delhi-NCR region to mitigate severe seasonal air pollution.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory federal body in India tasked with overall coordination, enforcement, and direct oversight of air quality initiatives across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

How is a GRAP stage decided and when does it take effect?

GRAP stages are invoked based on the running average Air Quality Index (AQI) values across central monitoring stations. The CAQM meets regularly and reviews forecasting data from agencies like IITM and SAFAR.

Once a trigger threshold is predicted or breached, a formal directive is issued, and state authorities in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, etc., are mandated to enforce the corresponding stage rules within a few hours.

What vehicles (BS-III/BS-IV) are banned under Stage III & IV?

Under GRAP Stage III, all BS-III (Bharat Stage III) petrol vehicles and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (4-wheelers) are completely banned from operating in Delhi and adjacent NCR districts (including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida).

Violations of these vehicle bans incur heavy traffic police fines of ₹20,000 under Section 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Are schools and offices automatically closed during Stage IV?

Under Stage IV, state governments have the legal power and recommendations to transition physical school classes to online learning for all grades (except grades 10 and 12).

Public and private offices are generally advised or mandated to operate at 50% capacity, with the remaining employees working from home (WFH) to reduce traffic pollution.

What are the financial penalties for violating dust and waste bans?

The CAQM enforces zero-tolerance policies. Construction and demolition sites failing to register or deploy dust curtains and water sprinklers are immediately sealed and fined up to ₹5,000,000 depending on size.

Local municipalities also levy instant on-spot fines (ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000) for individuals or businesses caught burning waste, dry leaves, or plastic in public spaces.

How is Gurgaon's GRAP level coordinated with Delhi?

Since Gurgaon (Haryana) is part of the contiguous National Capital Region (NCR), its air quality is deeply linked with Delhi. The CAQM invokes the GRAP stage uniformly across the entire region.

Therefore, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and District Administration of Gurugram implement the exact same restrictions concurrently with Delhi.