The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) approved revisions to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the National Capital Region (NCR) on 28 September 2026. The revised schedule contains 48 actions across four stages and applies to vehicle emissions, dust control, and other pollution-control measures in the NCR.
Graded Response Action Plan
GRAP is a stage-wise emergency action framework for air pollution control in the NCR. It operates through four stages, namely Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV, based on the severity of air quality conditions.
Stage-wise action structure
The revised GRAP includes 25 actions in Stage I, 8 actions in Stage II, 10 actions in Stage III, and 5 actions in Stage IV. Measures related to the operation of diesel generator sets and the entry of BS-IV and below buses from NCR and adjoining states have been shifted from Stage II to Stage I.
Vehicle and dust control measures
Under the revised schedule, restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or below-standard light motor vehicles under Stage III now extend to Sonipat, along with Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. The exemption for BS-IV and below goods vehicles carrying essential commodities has been removed for Stage III light and medium goods vehicles and Stage IV heavy goods vehicles.
The CAQM also approved an amendment to extend web-portal based monitoring of dust control measures at eligible Construction & Demolition sites beyond municipal limits in the NCR. Repeated measures related to dust control, municipal solid waste management, and transport have been merged under Stage I.
Important Facts for Exams
- CAQM stands for the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.
- GRAP is used in the NCR for graded action against worsening air pollution.
- BS norms refer to Bharat Stage emission standards for vehicles in India.
- Construction & Demolition sites are a major focus area in urban dust-control measures.
Citizens Charter under GRAP
The Citizens Charter under each GRAP stage has been modified with additional Do’s and Don’ts. The revised framework was approved on 28 September 2026 for implementation in the NCR air-quality management system.
