Delhi chokes: AQI 324, plunges to ‘very poor’; Stage-II GRAP invoked

A thick layer of smog shrouds Akshardham Temple on November 2, 2026

In an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP has taken the call to invoke the action plan as per Stage-II of the extant GRAP in the entire NCR on Monday (November 2, 2026).

“All actions as envisaged under Stage-II of the extant GRAP – ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality (DELHI AQI- 301-400), be implemented with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in NCR, in addition to all Stage-I actions of GRAP already in force,” the CAQM said in an order.

The CAQM’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sub-committee, which reviewed the air quality situation on Monday (November 2), noted that Delhi’s AQI had risen sharply from 117 in the ‘moderate’ category on October 31 to 261 in the ‘poor’ category on November 1, before reaching 324.

Citing unfavourable meteorological conditions and forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), the panel said air quality was likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the coming days.

Under stage 2 of the GRAP, the NCR State governments are directed to enhance vehicle parking fees to discourage the use of private vehicles.

“GNCTD (Delhi government) and NCR State governments to stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar,” as per stage 2 of GRAP.

Most of the other directions in stage 2 of GRAP direct State governments to implement existing measures to control air pollution, such as mechanical sweeping of roads or sprinkling water on roads, among others, more strictly.

The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung weather station, considered representative of Delhi, settled at 29.5 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 16.4 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees above normal.

Among other stations, Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 27.2 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 29.3 degrees, the Ridge 28.3 degrees and Ayanagar 29.2 degrees.

No rainfall was recorded at any weather station during the 24 hours ending at 5:30 p.m.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between 301 and 400 falls in the ‘very poor’ category, while 401 to 500 is classified as ‘severe’.

India / Delhi / air pollution / pollution / pollution control / environmental pollution