The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has made school closures in Delhi and NCR mandatory during severe air quality levels under Stage 3 and Stage 4 of the updated Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Areas like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar are affected. The Supreme Court had earlier criticized delays in strict action to protect children. Delhi's AQI remains critical, averaging 419, with hotspots like Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar exceeding 400. Public office hours will also be staggered in affected regions under the new rules.