The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the relaxation of the GRAP IV stage after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that there is improvement in the air quality and stated that the measures under GRAP IV are no longer required.

The GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) measures are in place to tackle air pollution in Delhi. The top court was hearing a matter over measures to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR areas.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi today was 161, categorised as ‘moderate’ as of 8 am, according to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), after the city faced persistent air pollution since last one month.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

Delhi’s AQI was reeling in ‘very severe’, ‘severe’, ‘very poor’ and ‘poor’ categories post-Diwali. Residents in the region complained of breathing difficulties and several other medical problems.