2025-26 Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Crisis & Regulatory Response: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc tracks the cyclical winter air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR from late 2025 to early 2026. It begins with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) noting a decline in air quality as early as September, long before the peak stubble-burning season in Punjab's Amritsar region. As levels worsened, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated various stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Supreme Court initially empowered the CAQM with a 'free hand' to take proactive measures, including advancing work-from-home mandates. However, by January 2026, the Court's tone shifted to a severe reprimand for the CAQM's failure to identify exact pollution sources, highlighting a systemic breakdown as India ranked 5th globally in pollution.

How This Story Evolved

Early pollution warnings (Item 5) → GRAP Stage-II invoked (Item 8) → SC empowers CAQM for stricter measures (Item 6) → SC reprimands CAQM for inaction/failure (Item 10) → Pollution peaks at hazardous levels (Item 9)

1. 2025-09-22: Delhi's Air Quality Worsening Before Peak Burning Season
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Delhi's air quality is worsening earlier in the year.

   Key Facts:

   • The average AQI in Delhi up to September 22 was 76 in 2021, 97 in 2023, 96 in 2024, and 97 in 2025.
   • Stubble burning emissions are approximately 92% carbon dioxide.
   • Other emissions from stubble burning include carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and fine particulate matter.
   • Punjab, particularly Amritsar, is the epicenter of early stubble burning.
2. 2025-10-22: CAQM Invokes Stage-II of GRAP in Entire NCR
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM invokes Stage-II of GRAP in entire NCR.

   Key Facts:

   • CAQM invoked Stage-II of GRAP in NCR
   • Delhi's air quality in “Very Poor” category (AQI 301–400)
   • GRAP enforced by CAQM from 2021
3. 2025-11-19: SC Allows CAQM to take proactive measures to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR
   More details

   UPSC Angle: SC allows CAQM to take proactive measures to curb air pollution.

   Key Facts:

   • Supreme Court gave Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) a free hand to take “any proactive measure” to curb air pollution.
   • CAQM proposed advancing choice GRAP IV restrictions to the ongoing GRAP III stage.
   • Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai.
   • Justice K. Vinod Chandran.
   • Supreme Court empowers CAQM to take proactive measures
   • Objective: Curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR
   • CAQM proposed advancing GRAP IV restrictions to GRAP III stage
4. 2026-01-04: CAQM Failure on Air Pollution Causes
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Supreme Court criticizes CAQM for inability to identify air pollution causes.

   Key Facts:

   • Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
   • Supreme Court directed CAQM to complete a source-identification and apportionment exercise within two weeks
   • Varying levels of responsibility to sectors such as transport, with estimates ranging from 12% to 41%
5. 2026-01-25: Air Pollution in India
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India ranks 5th among most polluted countries; Delhi's AQI crossed 500.

   Key Facts:

   • India ranks 5th among the most polluted countries.
   • Delhi's AQI crossed 500 in mid-January 2026.
   • PM2.5 levels in Delhi were 73 times the WHO limits.
   • 44% of Indian cities face chronic air pollution.
   • 1,787 cities exceeding national PM2.5 standards over five years (CREA 2026).
6. 2026-02-21: CAQM Imposes Stricter Emission Norms in Delhi-NCR
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM Imposes Stricter Emission Norms in Delhi-NCR.

   Key Facts:

   • CAQM prescribed stricter particulate matter emission norms for industries across Delhi-NCR.
   • A uniform particulate matter emission standard of 50 milligrams per normal cubic metre has been set for identified industries.
   • The decision is based on recommendations from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and studies by IIT Kanpur.
7. 2026-02-21: Commission for Air Quality Management Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures.

   Key Facts:

   • Commission for Air Quality Management Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures.

Genesis

Trigger

The crisis was triggered on September 22, 2025, when the CPCB reported an average AQI of 97, matching the deteriorating trends of previous years even before the peak burning season.

Why Now

Stubble burning in Amritsar, Punjab, started earlier than usual, acting as a precursor to the winter inversion that traps pollutants in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Historical Context

The CAQM was established in 2021 to replace the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA). This arc shows the CAQM facing the same judicial scrutiny and enforcement challenges as its predecessor.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-11-19] Supreme Court grants CAQM 'free hand' for proactive measures

   It allowed regulatory flexibility, such as implementing GRAP IV restrictions (WFH mandates) even at the GRAP III AQI stage.

   Before: CAQM followed rigid AQI triggers. After: CAQM was empowered to act preemptively based on forecasts.

2. [2026-01-04] SC reprimand for 'Failure of Duty'

   It shifted the focus from merely reacting to pollution to the scientific necessity of source identification.

   Before: Focus on emergency bans. After: Focus on data-driven source apportionment and public transparency.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
• Supreme Court of India (SC)
• Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA)

Key Concepts

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

A set of emergency measures (Stages I to IV) implemented in Delhi-NCR based on the severity of air quality, ranging from banning construction to mandates for work-from-home.

Current Fact: Stage-II of GRAP was invoked on October 22, 2025, when Delhi's air quality entered the 'Very Poor' category (AQI 301–400).

Source Apportionment

A scientific method used to identify and quantify the different sources of air pollution (e.g., transport, biomass burning, dust) in a specific area.

Current Fact: Estimates for the transport sector's contribution to Delhi's pollution currently vary widely between 12% and 41%.

Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller, known for deep lung penetration and severe health impacts.

Current Fact: By mid-January 2026, PM2.5 levels in Delhi were 73 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of January 25, 2026, Delhi is recovering from a peak AQI of 500, with 44% of Indian cities currently facing chronic air pollution levels exceeding national standards.

Likely Next

The CAQM is under a court-mandated 2-week deadline (from Jan 4) to complete a source-identification and apportionment exercise and release the findings publicly.

Wildcards

Weather fluctuations like Western Disturbances could clear the air, or a sudden spike in transport sector emissions (currently estimated between 12-41%) could undermine GRAP measures.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
• Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies
• Judiciary: Role in environmental protection

Essay Angles

• The recurring winter of our discontent: Policy paralysis in air quality management
• Scientific temper vs. Administrative convenience in environmental governance
• Judicial Activism: A catalyst or a substitute for executive action?

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: perennial

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Difference between National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). — Tests understanding of statutory bodies. CAQM (under the 2021 Act) now supersedes the CPCB's role in the NCR for pollution management.
• Powers of the Government under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. — CAQM was created following the dissolution of EPCA, which was constituted under Section 3(3) of the EPA, 1986.

Prelims Angles

• AQI Pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb (Shankar IAS p. 70).
• The CAQM is a statutory body established by the 2021 Act, unlike the EPCA which was an executive body.
• Stubble burning chemistry: 92% of emissions are CO2, alongside methane, CO, and NOx.

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Critically analyze the effectiveness of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in addressing the seasonal air pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. Does judicial intervention compensate for executive failure in this context?

Answer Structure: Intro: Define CAQM's mandate and the recent winter crisis → Body 1: The functionality of GRAP and recent proactive empowerment by SC → Body 2: Challenges in source apportionment and lack of cross-state coordination (Punjab burning) → Critical Analysis: Judicial reprimands as a sign of executive failure; the 12-41% transport data ambiguity → Way Forward: Technical solutions (Torrefaction) and scientific data transparency.

Essay Topic: The paradox of high-growth economies and declining environmental livability.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

The 2025-26 crisis underscores that statutory empowerment (CAQM) and emergency plans (GRAP) remain ineffective without precise scientific source apportionment and proactive executive enforcement.

All Events in This Story (7 items)

1. 2025-09-22 [Environment & Ecology] — Delhi's Air Quality Worsening Before Peak Burning Season
   Delhi's air quality is declining earlier in the year, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) up to September 22, 2025, mirroring similar trends in 2023 and 2024, indicating a shift towards 'moderate' air quality even before the peak stubble burning season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Research indicates that stubble burning emissions consist mainly of carbon dioxide (92%), along with other harmful gases and particulate matter, with the early burning centered in Punjab, particularly Amritsar.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Delhi's air quality is worsening earlier in the year.

   Key Facts:

   • The average AQI in Delhi up to September 22 was 76 in 2021, 97 in 2023, 96 in 2024, and 97 in 2025.
   • Stubble burning emissions are approximately 92% carbon dioxide.
   • Other emissions from stubble burning include carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and fine particulate matter.
   • Punjab, particularly Amritsar, is the epicenter of early stubble burning.
2. 2025-10-22 [Environment & Ecology] — CAQM Invokes Stage-II of GRAP in Entire NCR
   The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) as Delhi's air quality slipped into the “Very Poor” category (AQI 301–400) ahead of winter. GRAP is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to control air pollution based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels and is enforced by CAQM from 2021.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM invokes Stage-II of GRAP in entire NCR.

   Key Facts:

   • CAQM invoked Stage-II of GRAP in NCR
   • Delhi's air quality in “Very Poor” category (AQI 301–400)
   • GRAP enforced by CAQM from 2021
3. 2025-11-19 [Polity & Governance] — SC Allows CAQM to take proactive measures to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR
   The Supreme Court has granted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) the authority to implement proactive measures to reduce air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. This decision allows CAQM to advance the implementation of GRAP IV restrictions, such as work-from-home mandates and 50% office attendance, to the current GRAP III stage. The court has directed CAQM to consult with stakeholders to ensure inclusivity in the decision-making process.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: SC allows CAQM to take proactive measures to curb air pollution.

   Key Facts:

   • Supreme Court gave Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) a free hand to take “any proactive measure” to curb air pollution.
   • CAQM proposed advancing choice GRAP IV restrictions to the ongoing GRAP III stage.
   • Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai.
   • Justice K. Vinod Chandran.
   • Supreme Court empowers CAQM to take proactive measures
   • Objective: Curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR
   • CAQM proposed advancing GRAP IV restrictions to GRAP III stage
4. 2026-01-04 [Environment & Ecology] — CAQM Failure on Air Pollution Causes
   The Supreme Court criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for its inability to clearly identify the causes of air pollution in Delhi-NCR and their relative contribution, terming it a “complete failure of duty”. The court directed CAQM to complete a source-identification and apportionment exercise within two weeks and place the findings in the public domain.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Supreme Court criticizes CAQM for inability to identify air pollution causes.

   Key Facts:

   • Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
   • Supreme Court directed CAQM to complete a source-identification and apportionment exercise within two weeks
   • Varying levels of responsibility to sectors such as transport, with estimates ranging from 12% to 41%
5. 2026-01-25 [Environment & Ecology] — Air Pollution in India
   India ranks 5th among the most polluted countries in the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2024–2025. In mid-January 2026, Delhi's AQI crossed 500, with PM2.5 levels 73 times the WHO limits. Around 44% of Indian cities face chronic air pollution, with 1,787 cities exceeding national PM2.5 standards over five years (CREA 2026).
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India ranks 5th among most polluted countries; Delhi's AQI crossed 500.

   Key Facts:

   • India ranks 5th among the most polluted countries.
   • Delhi's AQI crossed 500 in mid-January 2026.
   • PM2.5 levels in Delhi were 73 times the WHO limits.
   • 44% of Indian cities face chronic air pollution.
   • 1,787 cities exceeding national PM2.5 standards over five years (CREA 2026).
6. 2026-02-21 [Environment & Ecology] — CAQM Imposes Stricter Emission Norms in Delhi-NCR
   The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a statutory direction prescribing stricter particulate matter emission norms for industries across Delhi-NCR, setting a uniform standard of 50 milligrams per normal cubic meter for identified industries. This decision, based on recommendations from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and studies by IIT Kanpur, aims to reduce industrial stack emissions and improve regional air quality.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM Imposes Stricter Emission Norms in Delhi-NCR.

   Key Facts:

   • CAQM prescribed stricter particulate matter emission norms for industries across Delhi-NCR.
   • A uniform particulate matter emission standard of 50 milligrams per normal cubic metre has been set for identified industries.
   • The decision is based on recommendations from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and studies by IIT Kanpur.
7. 2026-02-21 [Environment & Ecology] — Commission for Air Quality Management Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures
   The Commission for Air Quality Management Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: CAQM Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures.

   Key Facts:

   • Commission for Air Quality Management Strengthens Anti Stubble Burning Measures.