Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Delhi Pollution Crosses 400 Mark, GRAP-IV Re-imposed; Here's What We Know

After a brief period of clear sky, and better air quality index levels (AQI), Delhi is again engulfed with thick layer of smog. Delhiites on Monday morning woke up with the AQI of 418, under the 'severe' category. As per the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the ITO area was recorded 434, Rafi Marg at 417, and areas around Swaminarayan Akshardham temple at 455. All under 'severe' category. 

<ul><li>Anand Vihar stood at 462</li><li>Ashok Vihar stood at 473</li><li>Bawana stood at 448</li><li>Burari stood at 460</li><li>Chandni Chowk stood at 454</li><li>Dwarka Sector 8 stood at 427</li><li>Mundka stood at 467</li><li>Narela stood at 437</li><li>Punjabi Bagh stood at 434</li><li>RK Puram stood at 439</li><li>Rohini stood at 437</li><li>Wazirpur stood at 472</li></ul>

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday evening after AQI crossed the 400 mark for the first time in 2026. GRAP-IV is the strictest of all measures, and bans construction activities, along with restrictions on vehicle movement. 

Under GRAP-IV, all petrol, diesel and CNG stations in Delhi will supply fuel to only vehicles with valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). 

Vehicles identified through ANPR cameras or other methods and found refuelled without PUCC will be facing penalties. 

Verification of the physical certificates or electronic certificates would be done through systems like VAHAN. 

<strong>Note: </strong>These rules do not apply on emergency vehicles on sovereign duty like ambulances, fire tenders and police vehicles. Vehicles carrying essential goods or providing essential services will be exempted too, notified by authorities. 

Any vehicle registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI norms will not be allowed to operate in the city. CNG and electric vehicles, public transport, and vehicles carrying essential goods are exempted.

Trucks or any other carriers that transport construction materials like sand, stones, bricks, cement, ready-mix concrete, debris and similar items, will not be allowed to enter Delhi. 

<h2>Are Schools Closed Under GRAP-IV?</h2>

Under GRAP-IV, physical classes are suspended, and based on previous precedents, educational institutions were directed to shift to online or hybrid learning mode. GRAP-IV restrictions have been reimposed across Delhi and NCR residents, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. 

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/delhi-isnt-just-breathing-toxic-air-but-also-a-superbug-that-resists-antibiotics-article-153433162" data-type="tilCustomLink">Delhi Isn't Just Breathing Toxic Air, But Also A Superbug That Resists Antibiotics</a>

<h2>Delhi's Air Pollution Continues To Worsen</h2>

Delhi is not just breathing <span>toxic air</span>, but also a superbug through its air, which was found in a latest research conducted by the researchers are Jawaharlal Nehru University, published in Nature - Scientific Reports. Apart from the heavy particulate matter or the PM2.5, which are small enough to penetrate through one's bloodstream and cause blockage, Delhi's air also contains airborne bacteria, including staphylococci. The bacteria levels exceed the safety limit by 16-fold as provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

<h2>Will Delhi Use Smog-Eating Surfaces To Deal With Pollution?</h2>

The government is pursuing "smog eating" surfaces to deal with the pollution problem in Delhi. While it may sound like a strange thing in India, not to the world. In fact, in the Netherlands these were used to reduce local nitrogen oxide or the NO concentrations in the air, rather than greenhouse gas concentrations.

Smog usually contains a mixture of hydrocarbons, ozone, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and particulates. The pollution is caused by both photochemical reactions that involve sunlight, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, along with high concentrations of particulate matter, especially from vehicle exhaust, construction dust and biomass burning.

Read: Explained: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/explained-what-are-smog-eating-surface-and-how-is-delhi-using-it-to-beat-air-pollution-article-153444308" data-type="tilCustomLink">What Are Smog-Eating Surface And How Is Delhi Using It To Beat Air Pollution</a>

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced "smog eating" surface as part of its pollution control plan, for which the government has also signed an MoU with IIT Madras.

The smog eating surfaces will be public surfaces coated with photocatalytic materials like titanium dioxide or TiO2 that is used to degrade pollutants.

Smog contains mainly nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter. When all of these interact with photocatalytic materials, gaseous pollutants convert into less harmful compounds, such as nitrogen oxides become nitrates or decompose into ions. This process is also known as pollutant mineralization.

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After a brief period of clear sky, and better air quality index levels (AQI), Delhi is again engulfed with thick layer of smog. Delhiites on Monday morning woke up with the AQI of 418, under the 'severe' category. As per the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in the ITO area was recorded 434, Rafi Marg at 417, and areas around Swaminarayan Akshardham temple at 455. All under 'severe' category. Anand Vihar stood at 462Ashok Vihar stood at 473Bawana stood at 448Burari stood at 460Chandni Chowk stood at 454Dwarka Sector 8 stood at 427Mundka stood at 467Narela stood at 437Punjabi Bagh stood at 434RK Puram stood at 439Rohini stood at 437Wazirpur stood at 472GRAP IV Reimposed In DelhiThe Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Saturday evening after AQI crossed the 400 mark for the first time in 2026. GRAP-IV is the strictest of all measures, and bans construction activities, along with restrictions on vehicle movement. What Is Allowed And What Is NotUnder GRAP-IV, all petrol, diesel and CNG stations in Delhi will supply fuel to only vehicles with valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). Vehicles identified through ANPR cameras or other methods and found refuelled without PUCC will be facing penalties. Verification of the physical certificates or electronic certificates would be done through systems like VAHAN. Note: These rules do not apply on emergency vehicles on sovereign duty like ambulances, fire tenders and police vehicles. Vehicles carrying essential goods or providing essential services will be exempted too, notified by authorities. Any vehicle registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI norms will not be allowed to operate in the city. CNG and electric vehicles, public transport, and vehicles carrying essential goods are exempted.Trucks or any other carriers that transport construction materials like sand, stones, bricks, cement, ready-mix concrete, debris and similar items, will not be allowed to enter Delhi. Are Schools Closed Under GRAP-IV?Under GRAP-IV, physical classes are suspended, and based on previous precedents, educational institutions were directed to shift to online or hybrid learning mode. GRAP-IV restrictions have been reimposed across Delhi and NCR residents, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. Also Read: Delhi Isn't Just Breathing Toxic Air, But Also A Superbug That Resists AntibioticsDelhi's Air Pollution Continues To WorsenDelhi is not just breathing toxic air, but also a superbug through its air, which was found in a latest research conducted by the researchers are Jawaharlal Nehru University, published in Nature - Scientific Reports. Apart from the heavy particulate matter or the PM2.5, which are small enough to penetrate through one's bloodstream and cause blockage, Delhi's air also contains airborne bacteria, including staphylococci. The bacteria levels exceed the safety limit by 16-fold as provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).Will Delhi Use Smog-Eating Surfaces To Deal With Pollution?The government is pursuing "smog eating" surfaces to deal with the pollution problem in Delhi. While it may sound like a strange thing in India, not to the world. In fact, in the Netherlands these were used to reduce local nitrogen oxide or the NO concentrations in the air, rather than greenhouse gas concentrations.Smog usually contains a mixture of hydrocarbons, ozone, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and particulates. The pollution is caused by both photochemical reactions that involve sunlight, unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, along with high concentrations of particulate matter, especially from vehicle exhaust, construction dust and biomass burning.Read: Explained: What Are Smog-Eating Surface And How Is Delhi Using It To Beat Air PollutionEnvironment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced "smog eating" surface as part of its pollution control plan, for which the government has also signed an MoU with IIT Madras.The smog eating surfaces will be public surfaces coated with photocatalytic materials like titanium dioxide or TiO2 that is used to degrade pollutants.Smog contains mainly nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter. When all of these interact with photocatalytic materials, gaseous pollutants convert into less harmful compounds, such as nitrogen oxides become nitrates or decompose into ions. This process is also known as pollutant mineralization.