Delhi's Air Quality Improves to Satisfactory, GRAP Revoked After Rainfall
New Delhi witnessed a significant improvement in air quality on Monday morning, following widespread light rain and gusty winds the previous day. The air quality index (AQI) dropped to 119, placing it in the satisfactory category, a notable decline from Sunday's AQI of 175, which was in the moderate range. This positive development prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to completely revoke the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from the region.
AQI Trends and Historical Context
The AQI of 119 recorded on Monday marks Delhi's lowest air quality reading since October 9, 2025, when it was 99, also in the satisfactory category. By 11 AM on Monday, the AQI had further improved to 97, firmly in the satisfactory zone. However, as the sun emerged throughout the day, the AQI began to rise slightly. The lead pollutant identified was ozone (O3), a gas that forms under high temperatures and sunlight exposure.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), at 4 PM on Monday, 34 out of 44 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi reported AQI levels in the moderate range of 101-200. Ten stations recorded satisfactory levels between 51-100. The lowest AQI was 70 at ITO, while the highest was 181 at Mandir Marg.
Forecast and Meteorological Insights
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have forecast that Delhi's average AQI is likely to remain in the moderate category until at least Thursday. Light rain is expected on all three days starting from Wednesday, with drizzle and gusty winds up to 40 km/hour anticipated in some areas. A yellow alert has been issued for Friday, indicating chances of at least two spells of rain throughout the day.
An IMD official stated, "We can expect drizzle and gusty winds up to 40km/hour in places. A yellow alert is in place for Friday, with chances of at least two such spells of rain through the day." The official added that temperatures will remain in check due to an upcoming western disturbance, preventing significant rises over the weekend.
Temperature Variations and GRAP Status
On Monday, Delhi's maximum temperature reached 32.2 degrees Celsius, which is three notches above the normal level, compared to 30.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The minimum temperature was 17.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal but 1.3 degrees below Sunday's minimum. The revocation of GRAP marks a significant milestone, as the last time Delhi had no GRAP in place was on October 13 of the previous year. Stage 1 of GRAP is typically declared to address poor category AQI levels.
