Educational institutions across Delhi and five major National Capital Region (NCR) districts have been directed to transition to a hybrid learning model for students up to Class 5. This directive, issued in response to deteriorating air quality, will remain in effect until further official orders are provided by the government. The move follows the activation of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the mandate in a public address, specifying that the requirement for hybrid instruction applies to schools in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat. Under this new arrangement, institutions are required to provide both physical and online attendance options where facilities permit. The choice of mode rests entirely with the students and their parents or guardians, ensuring that families can opt for home-based learning if they deem it safer amid the current environmental conditions.
The decision was prompted by a significant decline in air quality across the region. On Friday, November 6, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 382. This reading places the capital’s air quality in the 'very poor' category, bringing it precariously close to the 'severe' threshold. Environmental experts and authorities remain concerned about the stability of these pollution levels, particularly as meteorological conditions are predicted to worsen over the coming days.
Minister Sirsa highlighted that weather patterns, specifically anticipated drops in wind speed starting from Saturday, could further exacerbate the situation. Reduced wind movement often results in pollutants remaining trapped closer to the ground, significantly impacting the quality of the air that residents breathe. He has urged the public to strictly adhere to the newly imposed restrictions to prevent further deterioration of the local environment.
Beyond educational adjustments, the implementation of Stage III of GRAP brings a series of stringent restrictions on vehicular movement in Delhi and specific NCR districts, including Gautam Buddha Nagar. The use of petrol vehicles that comply only with BS-III emission standards or lower is now prohibited. Similarly, diesel vehicles meeting BS-IV standards or below are no longer permitted to operate in the identified regions. These restrictions also extend to diesel-powered medium and light goods vehicles registered outside the capital.
The authorities have provided limited exemptions to these transport rules, specifically for vehicles that have been modified to assist individuals with disabilities for their personal travel. Enforcement of these measures will continue as long as the Stage III protocols under GRAP remain active. Residents and stakeholders have been advised to keep a close watch on further announcements from the CAQM, as well as state and local government agencies, as the situation evolves.
This is not the first time that GRAP measures have been used to mitigate the health risks associated with winter pollution in the National Capital Region. The step-by-step framework is designed to trigger specific interventions as air quality transitions through different stages of severity. As the current situation is classified under Stage III, the focus remains on reducing human exposure to pollutants and limiting high-emission activities across the urban centers of Delhi and its neighbouring satellite cities.
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