Delhi-NCR Air Quality Restrictions Lifted Amid Improvement

Air Quality Management Commission Takes Action

On Friday, the Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) announced the lifting of restrictions imposed under GRAP-3 due to improvements in air quality in Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas. However, all restrictions under phases 1 and 2 of the current GRAP will remain in effect across the NCR. According to the notification, the air quality index (AQI) for Delhi, which was recorded at 380 on Thursday, showed significant improvement, dropping to 236 by 4 PM on Friday, indicating a positive trend. Considering the current air quality trends, the CAQM sub-committee decided to immediately revoke all actions planned under phase 3 of the GRAP across the NCR.

Significant Improvement in Air Quality

Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, stated on Thursday that the national capital recorded its best air quality in the past eight years in 2025. He noted that the PM2.5 level decreased from 104 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024 to 96 in 2025, while the PM10 level fell from 212 micrograms per cubic meter to 197 during the same period.

Commitment to Clean Air

Sirsa emphasized, "The residents of Delhi have given us a mandate to serve, and we have made clean air our top priority. The record-breaking number of days with good air quality index in 2025 proves that science-based actions can work wonders." An official statement revealed that in 2025, there were approximately 200 days when the AQI remained below 200, marking an improvement of nearly 15% compared to the previous four years.

Analysis of Air Quality Data

Among these days, 79 were categorized as 'good' and 'satisfactory.' The report indicated that the average AQI from January to November was 187, the best in the last eight years, excluding the COVID-affected year of 2020. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies the AQI as follows: 0 to 50 is 'good,' 51 to 100 is 'satisfactory,' 101 to 200 is 'moderate,' 201 to 300 is 'poor,' 301 to 400 is 'very poor,' and 401 to 500 is 'severe.'