New Delhi Air Quality 'Severe' at Season-High 461 AQI

• Delhi's AQI reached 461, the highest of the season, keeping air quality in the 'severe' category.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of GRAP, banning all construction and demolition in Delhi-NCR.
• Stage III of GRAP had been invoked earlier as air quality continued to worsen.
• An environmentalist criticized the reactive approach, calling for systemic policy decisions and addressing resource deficiencies for long-term improvement.

Why It Matters: Delhi's severe air pollution threatens health and forces emergency restrictions.