Delhi's Air Quality Enters 'Poor' Category as Restrictions Under GRAP Stage I Remain Active

Delhi's average air quality index was recorded at 235 on Wednesday morning, placing it in the 'poor' category with 31 out of 58 monitoring stations reporting higher pollution levels. Meanwhile, meteorological data indicates fluctuating temperatures and ongoing stubble-burning incidents across neighboring states.

New Delhi's average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 235 at 11 am on Wednesday, placing the national capital in the 'poor' category. Data indicates that 31 out of 58 monitoring stations observed higher pollution levels ranging between 238 and 323 AQI, with only two locations, Vivek Vihar and Jahangirpuri, recording readings above 300 AQI.

Authorities have already enforced restrictions under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) since October 16. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) classifies AQI under four distinct stages: Stage I for 'poor' (201-300), Stage II for 'very poor' (301-400), Stage III for 'severe' (401-450), and Stage IV for 'severe plus' (above 450), with specific operational restrictions mandated for each tier.

Across the National Capital Region (NCR), pollution levels varied significantly. Ghaziabad's New Tehsil-Loni station recorded an AQI of 462 at 10 am, while Noida Sector 62 registered 320. However, several other monitoring stations surrounding Delhi in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana reported AQI readings below 200.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi's air quality was in the moderate category with an AQI of 174 at 4 pm on October 26. The IMD expects air quality to remain in the moderate category on Wednesday before shifting to the poor category on October 28, with subsequent improvement anticipated over the following two days.

Temperature readings over the past 24 hours showed no major changes, with maximum temperatures ranging between 29°C and 31°C and minimum temperatures between 15°C and 16°C. These recorded temperatures were 1.6°C to 3.0°C below normal levels at multiple locations. Maximum temperatures on Wednesday are forecasted to reach between 30°C and 32°C at most places, followed by a potential temperature dip in the coming days.

Additionally, data from IARI’s Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) tracked stubble-burning incidents between September 15 and October 27. During this period, Punjab recorded 717 incidents compared to 890 in the previous year, Haryana logged 22 against 78, Madhya Pradesh recorded 510 against 483, Uttar Pradesh reported 324 against 973, and Rajasthan observed 533 against 538. In Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 13 stubble-burning cases were recorded, up from 6 in the previous year.

"Environmental conditions and regulatory interventions like GRAP directly influence regional business operations, supply chains, and employee productivity in the National Capital Region. As regulatory measures tighten during periods of poor air quality, businesses operating in sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and construction must plan for potential operational adjustments and compliance requirements. Monitoring these environmental indicators is essential for long-term business continuity and risk management in urban economic hubs." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes