Delhi-NCR faculties doubtless shut on Jan 19: Faculties throughout Delhi-NCR are more likely to stay closed on Monday, January 19. The Fee for Air High quality Administration (CAQM) on Saturday enforced GRAP Stage IV restrictions throughout the national-capital area as air pollution ranges surged into the ‘extreme plus’ class.
Delhi’s Air High quality Index (AQI) stood at round 400 on Saturday afternoon, bordering the ‘extreme’ class, earlier than worsening additional to 428 by evening. Neighbouring cities together with Noida, Better Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram additionally recorded ‘very poor’ air high quality ranges.
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Faculties in Delhi-NCR had remained closed earlier this week as a consequence of excessive chilly situations and have been scheduled to reopen within the week of January 16. Nevertheless, the sudden spike in air pollution and the imposition of GRAP Stage IV will doubtless immediate authorities within the area to reassess the continuation of bodily courses, particularly for youthful college students.
Nevertheless, as of now, there isn’t a official affirmation on faculty closures for Monday, January 19. Dad and mom and college students can keep up to date with data as and when shared by their respective faculty authorities, district administration or state-governments.
What’s GRAP?
GRAP, or the Graded Response Motion Plan, is a structured set of emergency measures enforced in Delhi-NCR to manage rising air air pollution. It lays down stage-wise restrictions based mostly on AQI ranges, with stricter curbs coming into impact as air pollution worsens.
Stage 1 comes into power when air high quality falls within the ‘Poor’ class, with AQI ranges between 201 and 300. Subsequent, GRAP Stage 2 is carried out when AQI deteriorates to the ‘Very Poor’ vary of 301 to 400.
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When air high quality turns ‘Extreme’, with AQI readings between 401 and 450, GRAP Stage 3 is put in place. Stage 4, the very best stage, is enforced when AQI crosses 450, inserting air high quality within the ‘Extreme Plus’ class.
Are faculties closed below GRAP-4?
Sure, below GRAP Stage 4, bodily courses in faculties are typically suspended. Instructional establishments are directed to shift to on-line or hybrid studying modes to scale back college students’ publicity to hazardous air situations.
As of January 18, 2026, GRAP-IV restrictions have been reimposed throughout Delhi and NCR districts, together with Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar, following a pointy deterioration in air high quality.
Below GRAP Stage IV, state governments have the authority to droop in-person courses and shift faculties to on-line or hybrid modes if air high quality is deemed hazardous.
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In the meantime, in Maharashtra, instructional establishments in components of Pune will stay closed on Monday in view of the ‘Pune Grand Tour 2026’, a world biking occasion scheduled to start within the metropolis. Faculties, faculties and different instructional establishments have been requested to droop bodily courses as intensive visitors restrictions can be in place all through the day.
Additionally Learn| Faculties, faculties to stay closed on Jan 19 for Pune Grand Tour 2026 cycle race
Authorities stated the choice was taken because the prologue race of the biking occasion can be held in Pune on Monday, requiring the closure of a number of main roads from 9 am to six pm. The Pune visitors division has issued advisories relating to visitors diversions and highway closures in key areas, together with Ganesh Khind Highway, Jangli Maharaj Highway and Fergusson Highway.
The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is a five-day Continental Highway Biking Race for Males, scheduled from January 19 to January 23. The race will cowl a complete distance of 437 kilometres, passing by the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Vary, and is anticipated to function difficult terrain with sharp turns and elevation adjustments. The occasion has drawn 171 riders representing 29 groups from 35 international locations, officers stated.
