The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has instructed the Delhi government to implement a hybrid teaching model for schools and colleges, allowing both physical and online classes where possible. This directive comes in response to the Supreme Court's request to assess the reopening of schools and colleges across Delhi-NCR amid ongoing air quality concerns.

The Supreme Court had highlighted the lack of air purifiers in many homes, suggesting that there was little difference between children staying at home or attending school. The Court also acknowledged concerns over students missing mid-day meals and struggling with virtual learning due to limited resources.

In light of this, the CAQM has eased certain restrictions under Stage 3 and Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), permitting educational institutions in the Delhi-NCR region to operate in a hybrid mode. The decision allows local governments in the region to determine how best to implement this approach.

While the Supreme Court declined to relax the stricter GRAP IV measures for Delhi on Monday, it did instruct the CAQM to consider relaxing guidelines specifically for students’ needs.