Delhi Air Pollution: Centre’s Strict Measures | Season’s Worst

The Centre imposed the most stringent emergency measures in Delhi-NCR on Saturday (December 13, 2025) as the city recorded its worst air quality of the season. The curbs include a complete ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Authorities in the Capital and the four adjoining districts have also been directed to conduct classes except for Grades 10 and 12 in hybrid mode (either physically or online).

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) also prohibited the entry of trucks into Delhi, except those carrying essential supplies and those running on LNG, CNG, electric or BS-VI fuel. It also announced a ban on construction and demolition activities across the entire NCR.

These curbs fall under Stages III and IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — a set of emergency measures to control air pollution, with Stage IV being the most restrictive. The announcement came after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued its daily 4 p.m. bulletin stating the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) to be 431 (‘severe’), surpassing the previous season low of 428 recorded on November 11.

GRAP-IV in Delhi-NCR: What is allowed and what is banned as AQI rises to ‘severe plus’

By 6 p.m., the AQI had worsened to 441. The CPCB said the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category on Sunday and show marginal improvement over the subsequent two days.

The CAQM said the State governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — whose districts fall within the NCR — may consider allowing 50% of employees to work from home, in line with Stage III provisions.

In the national capital, however, all government and private establishments will be required to operate with only 50% staff in offices, as the Delhi government has a standing order mandating this whenever Stage III is invoked.

‘Severe’ category AQI “affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases”, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The restrictions will take effect once the respective State governments issue implementation orders.

The CAQM also said State governments may consider additional emergency steps such as closing colleges and other educational institutions, suspending non-essential commercial activities, and enforcing the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme.

‘BJP’s failure’

The deterioration in air quality prompted the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre for failing to take the public health crisis seriously.

“Instead of confronting the air pollution crisis with transparency and scientific rigour, the BJP government has chosen to dilute accountability by deciding to develop its own air quality standards, separate from globally accepted protocols,” said AAP’s Delhi in-charge Saurabh Bharadwaj.

The former Delhi Health Minister added, “The BJP government is sending a dangerous message that it has no real intention of addressing the worsening pollution emergency.”

AAP has often attacked the BJP government in Delhi for “manipulating” AQI data to conceal the grim situation.

‘Feeble winds’

In a statement, the pollution monitoring agency said the major factor behind the spike in air pollution is not emissions but a feeble western disturbance across north-west India.

“This prevailing meteorological condition has marked reduction in wind speed, at times becoming calm, a shift in wind direction from westerly to easterly, and an increase in moisture content in the lower atmosphere,” it said.

The commission added, “Such conditions during the winter season are conducive to the formation of smog and fog, resulting in poor dispersion and trapping of pollutants near the surface. Owing to these adverse meteorological conditions, a sudden deterioration in air quality has been observed.”