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What happened
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas invoked Stage-III actions under the Graded Response Action Plan across the entire NCR with immediate effect. Officials said Delhi’s AQI rose from 343 at 4 p.m. on January 15, 2026 to 354 at 4 p.m. on January 16, 2026. A senior official said IMD/IITM forecasts indicated Delhi’s average AQI was likely to breach 400 and enter the ‘severe’ category due to slow wind speed, a stable atmosphere, unfavourable weather parameters, and lack of dispersal of pollutants. GRAP Stage-III restrictions had been revoked on January 2, 2026, while measures under GRAP Stages I and II continued across the NCR.
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Key insights
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Forecast conditions cited as driver of further AQI deterioration: A senior official said slow wind speed, stable atmosphere, unfavourable weather parameters, and lack of pollutant dispersal were expected to push Delhi’s average AQI beyond 400 in coming days.
Takeaways
Delhi-NCR is under GRAP Stage-III actions as AQI remains ‘very poor’ and forecasts indicate a possible shift into the ‘severe’ category.
Topics
Health & Medicine Public Health World & Politics Policy & Regulation Climate & Environment Pollution