New Delhi: The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed all government and private schools in the national capital to conduct classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode amid worsening air quality and the implementation of Stage III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The directive, issued on Friday, applies to government, government-aided and unaided recognised private schools under the Directorate of Education, as well as institutions run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Cantonment Board.
Under the arrangement, students can attend classes either physically or online. School heads have been instructed to immediately inform parents and guardians about the change.
Deputy Directors of Education across districts and zones have also been asked to visit schools under their jurisdiction to ensure the directions are implemented smoothly.
The decision follows the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) invocation of Stage III measures under GRAP across Delhi-NCR on Friday, two days ahead of Diwali, in view of deteriorating air quality.
Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 364 at 8 am on Saturday, placing the city in the 'very poor' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. This marked a slight improvement from Friday morning's reading of 389.
However, several monitoring stations recorded air quality in the 'severe' category. IIT Delhi registered an AQI of 443, Punjabi Bagh recorded 433, and Narela stood at 409. Cantonment Area recorded 315, while Dhaula Kuan registered 318. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 272.
According to the CPCB, AQI readings between 301 and 400 fall under the 'very poor' category, while readings between 401 and 500 are classified as 'severe'.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported misty conditions at New Delhi's Safdarjung station, where the temperature was 17 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Saturday.
What does GRAP Stage III mean?
GRAP is a four-stage emergency response framework implemented by the CAQM in coordination with the CPCB and state governments to tackle worsening air pollution across Delhi-NCR.
The measures are progressively intensified depending on pollution levels and forecasts from the IMD and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). The framework covers Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Stage I is triggered when the AQI falls between 201 and 300, categorised as 'poor'. It focuses on controlling road dust, enforcing pollution norms and preventing open waste burning.
Stage II applies when the AQI is between 301 and 400, or 'very poor'. It includes enhanced dust-control measures, higher parking fees and staggered office timings.
Stage III introduces stricter restrictions when air quality deteriorates towards the severe category. These include restrictions on certain vehicles, suspension of non-essential construction and demolition activities, and the option of shifting primary school classes to hybrid mode.
Stage IV, the most stringent level, applies when the AQI exceeds 450, categorised as 'severe plus', and involves additional restrictions on heavy goods vehicles, traffic and industrial activities.
Key restrictions under Stage III
The Stage III measures include a ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers across Delhi and designated NCR districts. Restrictions are also tightened on older light and medium goods vehicles and certain non-Delhi-registered diesel commercial vehicles entering the capital.
Non-essential construction activities involving substantial dust generation, including excavation, earthwork, demolition and road construction, have been suspended. Essential projects allowed to continue must follow strict dust-mitigation measures.
Stone crushers and mining operations, among other dust-generating activities, also face shutdowns or operational restrictions.
Authorities are additionally expected to strengthen public transport services by increasing Metro frequency and deploying more buses to discourage the use of private vehicles.
Stage III measures are intended to curb emissions and dust, including particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, and prevent air quality from deteriorating further towards the 'severe plus' category.
The restrictions are particularly aimed at reducing exposure risks for vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly. While GRAP provides an emergency response to pollution spikes, authorities have also stressed the need for regional coordination, cleaner transport and sustainable waste management to address the capital's persistent air-quality challenges.