
Delhi's AQI Surges Past 300 Despite GRAP Measures
What Happened?
Delhi's air quality worsened on October 23, with the AQI hitting 337, raising concerns over the effectiveness of pollution-control measures. This follows the invocation of Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on October 21.
Key points
- The AQI reached 337 at 9:31 AM on October 23, classified as 'Severe'.
- Stage I of GRAP was invoked on October 21 due to rising pollution levels.
- The lowest AQI recorded on October 22 was around 110-115 in the afternoon.
- Delhi's average AQI increased from 280 in winter 2022-23 to 295 in 2025-26.
- A Crea analysis found no consistent improvement in air quality since GRAP was revised in 2022.
- Enforcement of pollution measures has been flagged as inadequate, with shortfalls reported.
Key insights
- The rapid deterioration of air quality highlights the need for more effective pollution control measures.
- Inadequate enforcement of existing measures may lead to continued high pollution levels.
- Public health could be at risk if pollution levels remain high despite regulatory efforts.
Why it matters
The worsening air quality could impact public health and raise concerns about the effectiveness of current pollution control measures.
Source
India Today

