Delhi schools shift to hybrid mode up to Classes IX, XI as GRAP IV kicks in

As Delhi’s air quality plunged further into the ‘severe-plus’ category, the Delhi government’s on Saturday issued a circular directing schools to shift to a hybrid mode of classes for students up to Class IX and Class XI, in line with the enforcement of GRAP Stage IV across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The circular, issued following orders of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), stated that all Heads of Schools under the DoE, NDMC, MCD and the Delhi Cantonment Board—including government, government-aided and recognised private schools—must conduct classes in a hybrid format, combining physical and online learning wherever feasible.

The arrangement has come into effect immediately and will continue until further orders.


Schools on alert as pollution worsens

While a complete shift to online education has not been announced, the move signals heightened caution as toxic air continues to blanket the capital.

Education authorities said schools have been given flexibility under GRAP Stage IV to minimise students’ exposure, especially as pollution levels remain critically high.

Similar measures were taken earlier, when schools were allowed to adopt hybrid classes for select grades. Officials indicated that if air quality fails to improve, stricter steps, including a wider move to online classes, may be considered.

Emergency curbs tightened across NCR

The activation of GRAP Stage IV, the strictest level under the pollution control framework, has brought sweeping restrictions across Delhi-NCR.

All non-essential construction and demolition activities have been halted, along with operations of stone crushers, brick kilns, hot mix plants and mining units. Industries operating on coal, furnace oil or other non-approved fuels have also been ordered to shut.

Traffic curbs have been tightened, with the entry of diesel-powered medium and heavy goods vehicles into Delhi restricted, except for essential services.

Older BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers have been barred, and non-essential inter-state diesel buses that are not BS-VI compliant have been taken off the roads.

What continues despite restrictions

Essential services remain exempt from the shutdown.

Projects linked to metro rail, highways, airports, defence, healthcare and sanitation are allowed to continue under strict dust-control norms. Public transport services, including buses and the Delhi Metro, remain operational, as do electric, CNG and BS-VI compliant vehicles.

Offices have been advised to reduce physical attendance and encourage work-from-home arrangements wherever possible. Diesel generator sets are permitted only for critical services such as hospitals, telecom networks, data centres and emergency operations.