EnvironmentWednesday, 4 November 2026·The Hindu - Environment
Delhi GRAP Stage 2: AQI 324 triggers restrictions, BS-IV vehicle curbs and office timing changes
Delhi-NCR has moved to GRAP Stage 2 after AQI rose to 324, bringing vehicle restrictions and anti-pollution measures.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On November 4, 2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked GRAP Stage 2 across Delhi-NCR after Delhi’s AQI rose to 324 on November 2, 2026, placing the capital in the “very poor” category.
Key specifics
- GRAP-2 is triggered when AQI is between 301 and 400.
- Delhi’s AQI was 117 on October 31, 2026, 261 on November 1, 2026, and 324 on November 2, 2026.
- Non-BS6 vehicles were prohibited from entering or operating in Delhi from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
- BS-IV and older vehicles, including some buses and commercial vehicles, face restrictions under Stage 2.
- GNCTD and NCR governments must stagger timings for public offices and municipal bodies in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
Exam lens
Question type: environment and policy, AQI thresholds and emergency action plan. TNPSC may ask the GRAP stages, AQI bands, and the role of CAQM: 301-400 for GRAP-2, 324 AQI, Delhi-NCR, and vehicle restrictions.