50% Work From Home: Delhi Govt Directs All Government and Private Offices To Curb Pollution

Delhi authorities have ordered all government offices and private firms to keep only half their staff on-site, with the remaining employees working from home, as the city battles a sharp spike in pollution levels under Grap IV, the toughest category of emergency air quality restrictions currently active in the capital.

The same notification also warns that any company ignoring the 50 per cent work from home requirement will face financial penalties. Construction activities are already stopped under Grap IV rules, and the Delhi government has announced compensation of Rs 10,000 for each registered construction worker who cannot earn during the ongoing ban.

Delhi air quality emergency and work from home rules

The air quality slide peaked on 15 December, when the Central Pollution Control Board recorded an Air Quality Index of 498, placing Delhi in the “severe plus” bracket during the morning. This spike followed a steady decline from the previous day, when the AQI moved from the “severe” band into the same “severe plus” zone.

Regulators responded swiftly as the numbers worsened. The Commission for Air Quality Management triggered Grap IV restrictions across Delhi, aiming to limit further damage to public health. Under this framework, activities like construction halt, vehicle movement faces tighter checks, and offices are told to reduce physical attendance, which led to the latest work from home order.

Delhi air quality data and travel disruption

The key pollution readings around the crisis are shown below for clarity.

Dense smog settled over Delhi between Saturday and Monday, slashing visibility and contributing to several road crashes and vehicle pile-ups. Flight operations were also hit, with cancellations and delays reported. With conditions worsening, Delhi airport and multiple airlines issued advisories for passengers as the haze made travel planning and road movement harder.

After three difficult days, the city experienced a slight relief on Tuesday, when stronger surface winds and a thinning fog layer nudged readings down into the “very poor” category. Delhi’s air quality stayed at that level at the time of reporting, while Grap IV measures, including the 50 per cent work from home norm and the compensation scheme, continued to remain in force.