NEW DELHI, Nov. 2 -- Air quality in the national capital slipped into the 'very poor' category on Monday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to activate Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect. The city's daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 324 on 2 November, triggering additional pollution-control measures.

The decision was taken by the CAQM's sub-committee on GRAP after reviewing the prevailing air quality and forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

Delhi's AQI rose sharply from 117, in the 'moderate' category, on 31 October to 261, in the 'poor' catego...