Context: 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).

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The decision has been taken after Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 234 as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The GRAP for the NCR has been classified under 4 different stages of adverse air quality in Delhi, viz.

• Stage - | 'Poor' (Air Quality Index  201 - 300) 
• Stage - ll 'Very Poor (AQl 301- 400)
• Stage - lll 'Severe'(AQl 401-450) 
• Stage – lV ‘Severe +'(AQl >450) 

All 27-point action plans under Stage-I of GRAP are applicable from 15 October 2024 in the entire NCR.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• The Centre has constituted a “permanent” body, CAQM, in 2020 for the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas after dissolving the 22-year-old Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) that has so far addressed air pollution in Delhi.
• The CAQM works for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index.
• There are at least six permanent members. It is headed by a former or incumbent Secretary to the Government of India or a Chief Secretary to a State government.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on the AQI level of Delhi and brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to respond to situations of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.
• GRAP was notified by MoEF&CC in January 2017 on the recommendation of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• The plan requires action and coordination among 13 different agencies in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR areas).

National Air Quality Index

• The Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change launched ‘The National Air Quality Index’ (NAQI) in 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Mission. 
• The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status.
• Air Quality sub-index and health breakpoints are evolved for eight pollutants (Particulate matter (PM)10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Pb)