India, Dec. 25 -- Just hours after strong overnight winds pushed air quality in the Capital to "poor" on Wednesday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted stage 4 Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions despite forecasts showing it was expected to worsen a day later. However, all restrictions from Grap-1, 2 and 3 curbs will remain in place.

Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 271 at 4 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) national bulletin. It was in the "severe" category at the same time a day earlier, registering at 412.

In the evening on Wednesday, the CAQM issued orders rolling back Grap-4 curbs in view of, what it said was, the "disruptive nature of restrictions", the a...