UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — CAQM invokes 5-point action plan as per Stage-IV of Extent GRAP in Entire Delhi-NCR, with immediate effect
Q1. In the context of the Commission for Air Quality Management Act, 2021, the expression 'adjoining areas' is best defined as which one of the following?
- A. Areas in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh adjoining the NCT of Delhi and NCR where any source of pollution may cause an adverse impact on air quality in the NCR
- B. All districts of every State that shares a boundary with the National Capital Territory of Delhi
- C. The eight districts of the NCR notified under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985
- D. Any area within a 100-km radius of Connaught Place, Delhi, irrespective of State boundaries
Q2. The revised GRAP describes itself as a 'forecast-based' emergency response mechanism. In this context, 'forecast-based' most precisely means that:
- A. Graded actions may be invoked when Delhi's AQI is expected to cross a threshold as per the dynamic model and weather forecast of IMD/IITM, and not only after the threshold has actually been breached
- B. Actions are invoked strictly on the basis of the previous 24-hour observed AQI, with no reference to weather forecasts
- C. Stages are triggered automatically once the India Meteorological Department declares a cold wave over north India
- D. The Commission forecasts the economic cost of restrictions before deciding whether to invoke any stage
Q3. The daily-average AQI figures for Delhi on which GRAP stage decisions are based are published by which one of the following agencies?
- A. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- B. India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- C. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
- D. Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
Q4. Under the extant GRAP schedule, Stage-IV ('Severe+') is invoked when Delhi's daily-average AQI:
- A. exceeds 450
- B. lies in the range 401–450
- C. lies in the range 301–400
- D. exceeds 400
Q5. Under Stage-IV of GRAP, the restriction on entry of trucks into Delhi is best described as:
- A. A ban on truck entry into Delhi except trucks running on LNG/CNG/electric/BS-VI diesel and those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services
- B. A total ban on entry of all trucks into Delhi without any exception
- C. A ban applicable only to trucks registered outside the NCR, with all Delhi-registered trucks exempt
- D. A ban only on trucks manufactured before the year 2010, regardless of fuel type
Q6. Under Stage-IV of GRAP, the decision to conduct classes VI–IX and XI in 'hybrid' (physical plus online) mode is to be operationalised by which of the following?
- A. The State Governments in the NCR and the Government of NCT of Delhi
- B. The Commission for Air Quality Management directly through its Sub-Committee
- C. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- D. The Ministry of Education, Government of India
Q7. Under the extant GRAP schedule that came into effect on 21 November 2025, the authority empowered to invoke and revoke the graded stages for the entire NCR is:
- A. The Sub-Committee on GRAP under the Commission for Air Quality Management
- B. The Central Pollution Control Board
- C. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- D. The National Green Tribunal
Q8. Under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act, 2021 — a penal regime notably more stringent than that of the earlier pollution-control bodies — contravention of the Commission's orders is punishable with imprisonment extending up to how many years?
- A. 2 years
- B. 3 years
- C. 5 years
- D. 7 years