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GRAP Stage-I in Delhi-NCR: All 25 Actions for UPSC

Current affairs · · Prelims GS, GS Paper 3

Delhi's AQI turned 'Poor' on 21 Oct 2026 and GRAP Stage-I began across NCR. Key facts, all 25 actions and what UPSC can ask.

Delhi’s air quality fell into the ‘Poor’ band on 21 October 2026, and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) brought Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) into force across the whole NCR.

Key facts

  • Delhi’s daily average AQI was 244 at 2 PM and 245 at 4 PM on 21 Oct, per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin.
  • Both readings sit in the ‘Poor’ category, which means an AQI of 201–300.
  • CAQM’s Sub-Committee on GRAP invoked all 25 action points of Stage-I, with immediate effect, across the entire NCR.
  • The decision took forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) into account.
  • The agencies concerned implement, monitor and review the actions.

What UPSC can ask

  • Categories: know that ‘Poor’ means AQI 201–300, and that 244 and 245 fall inside it.
  • Mechanism: GRAP works in stages; here Stage-I was invoked with all 25 action points (full list below). Know the main buckets: dust, waste burning, vehicles, industry and power, and public awareness.
  • Who decides and who acts: CAQM’s sub-committee decides; the agencies concerned implement, monitor and review.
  • Inputs: weather forecasts from IMD/IITM were considered, so link air quality to meteorology.

A plain way to hold this: one number band (201–300), one stage (Stage-I), one body (CAQM’s sub-committee), and one region (the entire NCR). Check the live AQI and the current stage before an exam, since both can change.

All 25 Stage-I actions

  1. Enforce dust-control rules at construction and demolition (C&D) sites
  2. No C&D work on plots of 500 sq m or more that aren’t registered on the state portal
  3. Regular lifting of municipal, C&D, industrial and hazardous waste; no illegal dumping
  4. Mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling, with safe disposal of the dust
  5. Anti-smog guns and dust suppression on road works
  6. Ban on open burning of biomass and municipal waste, with maximum penalties
  7. Vigil against fires at landfills and dump sites
  8. Traffic management at congestion points
  9. Enforce PUC norms; stop visibly polluting vehicles
  10. Divert trucks not bound for Delhi via the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways
  11. Enforce the ban on overage diesel and petrol vehicles
  12. Inspect industries and act against illegal units
  13. Emission standards and approved fuels in industries, brick kilns and hot-mix plants
  14. Emission norms in thermal power plants
  15. Enforce court orders on firecrackers
  16. Power companies (DISCOMs) to minimise power cuts
  17. No diesel generators as a regular power source
  18. Regulated use of diesel generator sets by capacity, with emergency-service exemptions
  19. Only EV, CNG or BS-VI diesel inter-state buses into Delhi-NCR from the listed states
  20. No coal or firewood in tandoors at hotels and eateries
  21. Public awareness campaigns (IEC) on do’s and don’ts
  22. Mobile apps to share pollution levels and take complaints
  23. Quick action on complaints via the 311, Green Delhi and SAMEER apps
  24. Encourage offices to run shared commutes for staff
  25. More CNG/electric buses, metro and RRTS services; off-peak fares

In the syllabus: Mains GS Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment

Past UPSC questions on this topic

  1. UPSC Prelims 2026

    Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change:
    I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
    II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
    III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
    Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
    1. Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
    2. Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
    3. Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

  2. UPSC Prelims 2026

    With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
    2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.
    3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

  3. UPSC Prelims 2026

    Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
    1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
    2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
    3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

  4. UPSC Prelims 2026

    Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?
    1. Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States.
    2. Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States.
    3. Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

  5. UPSC Prelims 2026

    Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?
    1. It showcases how sustained local conservation efforts can contribute to the arrival and protection of international migratory birds.
    2. It reflects the global success of advanced tracking technologies that guide migratory birds back to their stopover sites.
    3. It confirms that Amur Falcons have adapted to permanent residency in India due to favourable habitat changes.
    Select the answer using the code given below:

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