New Delhi, Nov 24 — The Delhi government has directed all government departments and private offices in the national capital to operate with no more than 50 percent staff attending physically, with the remaining employees required to work from home, as air pollution levels continue to remain in the severe category. The measure has been activated under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in response to deteriorating air quality across the city.
The order, issued by the Environment Department under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, applies to every Delhi government office as well as private establishments functioning within city limits. According to the directive, administrative secretaries and heads of departments will continue to attend office, but overall on-site staffing must not exceed 50 percent. The remaining workforce will function remotely until further instructions are issued.
Private sector workplaces have also been asked to strictly adhere to the attendance cap, with mandatory work-from-home provisions for all employees beyond the allowed staffing limit. The move is intended to reduce vehicular traffic, which remains one of the major contributors to particulate emissions during peak pollution periods in winter.
The directive forms part of the graded pollution response framework that escalates restrictions based on AQI levels and meteorological forecasts. Stage 3 is activated when air quality reaches the “severe” range, prompting measures targeting emissions from transport, industrial activity, construction and public mobility patterns.
In previous years, similar restrictions have resulted in reduced traffic density and lower roadside particulate concentration, though officials acknowledge that regional meteorological conditions, crop residue burning and stagnant air also significantly influence pollution accumulation.
The current measures accompany other interventions already in place, including curbs on construction activity, checks on industrial emissions, enhanced enforcement against dust sources and advisories for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
Public health advisories have recommended limiting outdoor exposure, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity and using protective filtration indoors where possible. Medical professionals have noted rising complaints related to breathlessness, eye irritation, throat discomfort and aggravated chronic respiratory conditions during high pollution days.
Authorities are monitoring pollution data and meteorological conditions closely, with further restrictions possible if air quality continues to worsen or remains in the severe range for an extended period. Compliance monitoring has been stepped up across office establishments to ensure adherence to the attendance cap.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The implementation of 50 percent work-from-home for both government and private offices reflects the mounting urgency surrounding Delhi’s pollution crisis. With mobility reduction now a key tool in controlling emissions, workplace policies have once again become part of emergency air-quality management. As winter conditions intensify, the effectiveness of these measures and public cooperation will influence how the Capital navigates yet another challenging pollution cycle.