Delhi's AQI surges past 300 despite GRAP measures, pollution not slowing down

Delhi’s air pollution continued to worsen on Friday, October 23, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 337 at 9.31 am, as per to AQI.in data.

The reading was ‘Severe’, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of pollution-control measures introduced across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The rise in pollution comes just two days after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on October 21, following a sharp rise in pollution a day after Dussehra.

The latest readings suggest that the measures have not yet been enough to prevent pollution from building up.

DELHI INVITES 'SEVERE' POLLUTION OVERNIGHT

The AQI.in data tracking Delhi’s air quality over the past 24 hours shows pollution declining through the afternoon on Thursday before rising steadily through the evening and overnight.

The lowest recorded AQI reading was approximately 110–115 during Thursday afternoon. From there, pollution climbed through the evening, with readings crossing 200 overnight before reaching 337 at 9.31 am on Friday.

Under India’s official Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) scale, an AQI of 337 falls in the ‘Very Poor’ category, which covers readings between 301 and 400.

This episode, which saw the sudden and steep changes in the AQI, once again brought attention to how quickly Delhi’s air quality can deteriorate, even as anti-pollution measures are in force.

GRAP REMAINS INADEQUATE

GRAP is a measure imposed and made progressively stricter as pollution worsens.

Stage I includes dust control at construction sites, mechanised road sweeping and action against open waste burning.

However, a Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) analysis reported on October 22 found no consistent improvement in Delhi’s winter air quality since GRAP was revised in 2022.

The city’s average AQI rose from 280 in the winter of 2022-23 to 295 in 2025-26.

In 10 of 12 pollution episodes studied, the average AQI was also higher in the week after stricter curbs were introduced than in the preceding week.

Although weather conditions and other factors can influence these readings, it does lean towards the problem of the restrictions being not as effective.

Enforcement has also been a concern.

In 2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management flagged shortfalls of 7% to nearly 100% in several required measures, including construction-site inspections and road sweeping.

The findings show that the need of the hour is consistent enforcement and sustained action against pollution sources, rather than relying on emergency restrictions alone.