Following a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education has instructed all schools in the national capital to adopt a hybrid learning model for students up to the 12th standard. This approach combines physical classes with online learning options, ensuring continuity in education amidst worsening air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The CAQM order mandates that state governments in the NCR ensure classes are conducted in both modes, wherever online learning is feasible. The directive extends to educational institutions in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi and neighboring districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

In response, the Directorate of Education has issued instructions to all government, government-aided, and unaided private schools under its jurisdiction, as well as institutions under the NDMC, MCD, and Delhi Cantonment Board, to implement the hybrid system immediately. The directive will remain in effect until further notice.

Earlier, the CAQM introduced specific relaxations under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address disruptions in education caused by severe air pollution in the NCR. These relaxations included modifications to Clause 11 of GRAP Stage-III and Clauses 5 and 8 of GRAP Stage-IV, allowing schools and colleges to continue operations in a flexible manner.

The hybrid mode aims to minimize health risks for students while ensuring that education remains uninterrupted during periods of poor air quality.