New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- In a proactive bid to head off deteriorating air quality, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to invoke GRAP Stage 3 across Delhi and the broader National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday.

The decision comes two days ahead of the Diwali festival and aims to prevent further deterioration in air quality.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi's AQI stood at 382, in the very poor category. Several monitoring stations, however, recorded severe air quality levels, with IIT Delhi and Rohini reporting an AQI of 474 each, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 465, RK Puram at 443, ITO at 422, Firoz Shah Road at 420 and India...