Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 397 (‘Very Poor’) on Friday morning, just shy of the ‘Severe’ category, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to enforce Stage III restrictions and the Supreme Court to demand action on stubble burning.
November 14, 2025: The National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to a thick, suffocating blanket of smog on Friday, as the air quality crisis deepened for the fourth consecutive day. The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 397 at 8 am, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category, barely a point away from the most hazardous ‘Severe’ classification (401-500).
The current reading follows a worrying trend, as the AQI had previously crossed the 400-mark (‘Severe’) on Thursday afternoon.
Multiple Locations Breach 400 Mark
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that air quality has not only remained poor but has deteriorated into the ‘Severe’ zone in several highly populated areas. Many monitoring stations recorded readings significantly above 400, including:
- Wazirpur (444)
- Chandani Chowk (442)
- Bawana (440)
- Mundka (433)
- ITO (428)
- Jahangirpuri (421)
Only two stations, DTU-Delhi (266) and IHBAS Dilshad Garden (287), reported air quality that could be categorized as ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300), underscoring the widespread nature of the smog crisis.
GRAP-III Curbs Enforced
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has already invoked Stage III curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire NCR. The GRAP Stage III is triggered when the AQI breaches the 401 mark, falling into the ‘Severe’ category.
Key restrictions under GRAP-III include:
- Construction Ban: Prohibition on most non-essential construction and demolition activities.
- Vehicular Restrictions: Strict restrictions on the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and adjoining NCR districts.
- Education: Mandating a shift to a hybrid or online learning model for students up to Class 5.
- Industrial Activity: Restrictions on industrial operations at facilities not running on clean fuel and a ban on non-emergency diesel generator sets.
Supreme Court Steps In
The air pollution crisis, largely exacerbated by unfavorable winter meteorology and regional sources like stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, has drawn the intervention of the highest court.
The Supreme Court directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to submit a status report detailing the concrete measures being taken to curb farm fires, which significantly contribute to the toxic air in the Delhi-NCR region.
Meanwhile, a case advocate argued that the current situation demands the invocation of the even stricter GRAP-IV (Severe Plus, AQI > 450) measures to effectively combat the pollution.