Delhi scraps WFH, ends hybrid classes as GRAP-3 lifted after slight AQI improvement

Delhi AQI

The Delhi government on Wednesday announced that the Stage III restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have been lifted, following a slight improvement in the city’s air quality. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that Delhi will now operate under GRAP-II guidelines, and several curbs introduced will be rolled back.

मैं सभी दिल्लीवासियों को सूचित करना चाहता हूँ कि CAQM के आदेश अनुसार दिल्ली में अब GRAP-3 की पाबंदियाँ हटा दी गई हैं और राजधानी में GRAP-2 लागू है।

Story continues below Advertisement

Remove Ad

इसी के तहत दफ़्तरों में 50% Work From Home की व्यवस्था खत्म कर दी गई है और स्कूलों में चल रहा हाइब्रिड मोड भी अब बंद कर दिया गया… pic.twitter.com/dNhm6hxXUy

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 26, 2025

In a video message, Sirsa said the decision was taken after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed pollution levels and noted steady improvement over the past three days. “I want to inform all Delhi residents that, as per the CAQM order, GRAP-III restrictions have now been lifted and GRAP-II is currently in force,” he said.

He added that the 50% work-from-home arrangement for government offices has been withdrawn. Schools, which were functioning in hybrid mode due to the worsening pollution, will also return to full physical classes from Thursday.

"The AQI of Delhi has been improving since last 3 days and has been recorded 327 today. Further, the forecast by IMD/IITM predicts the AQI to remain in 'very poor' category in the coming days," the CAQM said in its order.

The sub-committee noted that both the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have forecast that the city’s air quality is likely to remain in the “very poor” range over the next few days, without slipping back to the “severe” level.

Despite the easing of Stage 3 restrictions, authorities stressed that measures under GRAP Stages I and II, such as strict dust control at construction sites, curbs on open burning, and tighter checks on polluting vehicles, will continue to remain in place and be closely monitored across Delhi and the surrounding NCR districts.

However, the CAQM has warned that if pollution levels worsen again, the stricter restrictions could be reimposed at any time.