As of early Thursday morning, the AQI at key locations like Anand Vihar, Bawana, Dwarka Sector 8, and Jahangirpuri surpassed 400, entering the "severe" category.

Delhi sees a major spike in air pollution every winter due to several factors, including the burning of farm waste in the adjoining states of Haryana and Punjab.

The GRAP 3 curbs in Delhi include ban on demolition and construction activities, and entry of certain vehicles inside Delhi-NCR, among other curbs, to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

Delhi air quality plummets to alarming levels every year in the winter. The air quality in the capital remains in the 'severe' category prompting the authorities to impose the third stage of GRAP.

Delhi is facing a pollution emergency as AQI exceeds 450. New restrictions, including diesel vehicle bans and school closures, are now in effect to combat the worsening air quality.

The tighter rule is aimed to curb pollution emnating from different sources as the AQI reached 418 on Thursday.

Delhi NCR will be under GRAP 3 restrictions starting tomorrow at 8 am due to severe air quality. Construction, demolition, and non-essential mining will be halted. Restrictions on interstate buses and a shift to virtual learning for primary schools are also included.

The decision to invoke the third stage of GRAP was announced by Commission for Air Quality Management, hours after Delhi government claimed that air quality in the city could improve without the implementation of the response.