The meeting underlined the need for sustained vigilance and strict enforcement across sectors, with implementing agencies committing to regular reviews and timely action under GRAP.
Annual Report and Accounts Approved
The Commission adopted its Annual Report for 2024–25 along with the audited annual accounts for the same period. The Separate Audit Report and the actionable points appended to the Annual Report were also reviewed and approved.
Members discussed the progress made by CAQM in coordinating inter-state and inter-agency efforts to improve air quality, while also identifying areas requiring stronger compliance and monitoring.
Revised GRAP Ratified
A key decision of the meeting was the ratification of the revised Graded Response Action Plan dated November 21, 2025. The revised framework has been modified in compliance with directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The Commission reviewed the structure of GRAP to ensure that measures under higher stages subsume actions prescribed under preceding stages. The implementation of GRAP during the current pollution season was also assessed in detail.
Additional measures under GRAP Stages I and II were deliberated upon, including uninterrupted power supply, traffic decongestion initiatives, timely public advisories, and augmentation of public transport services during periods of deteriorating air quality.
Expert Committee on Vehicular Emissions
The Commission ratified an Office Order dated December 10, 2025, constituting an Expert Committee to address air pollution caused by vehicular emissions. The committee will be chaired by Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT Madras.
The Terms of Reference include assessment of vehicular emissions, evaluation of health impacts, strategies for clean mobility, electric vehicle readiness, and regulatory interventions to reduce pollution from transport sources.
Push for Zero-Emission Vehicles
The Commission discussed amendments to Direction No. 94 dated June 3, 2025, aimed at accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles by motor vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities.
After considering stakeholder representations, the Commission proposed transitional provisions allowing the induction of BS-VI petrol two-wheelers in existing fleets until December 31, 2026. However, restrictions on induction of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles in other specified categories will come into effect from January 1, 2026.
Stubble Burning Shows Sharp Decline
Reviewing the status of paddy stubble burning during 2025, the Commission noted a significant reduction in incidents due to integrated monitoring, enforcement, and coordination with state governments.
An overall reduction of approximately 92 percent in stubble burning incidents was recorded across the NCR compared to 2021 levels. Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh were directed to prepare State Action Plans for monitoring and enforcement of wheat residue burning for the 2026 harvesting season.
Construction Dust and Industrial Enforcement
The Commission reviewed enforcement actions taken by the Enforcement Task Force, including closures and resumptions of industrial units and the status of complaints and prosecutions.
On construction and demolition waste, CAQM observed that dust from C&D activities remains a major contributor to PM10 and PM2.5 pollution. Municipal bodies and development authorities were urged to strengthen supervision, ensure waste collection and processing facilities, and verify waste disposal before granting construction permissions.
End-of-Life Vehicles and Court Orders
The issue of end-of-life vehicles was reviewed in light of recent judicial pronouncements. Following the Supreme Court’s order dated December 17, 2025, protection against coercive action continues for BS-IV and later emission standard vehicles.
Restrictions on action against highly polluting BS-III and older vehicles have been lifted, and enforcement agencies were directed to ensure strict compliance with applicable court orders.
