New Delhi, November 25, 2025 — In a major move to combat deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has mandated that all government and private offices operate at only 50% capacity, with remaining staff working from home effective immediately.
The directive was issued under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the Environment Department under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The order applies to all offices within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
All administrative secretaries and heads of departments must attend office regularly but maintain no more than 50% physical staff presence. Essential services including hospitals, fire services, public transport, and water and sanitation have been exempted from these restrictions.
Delhi’s air quality remained grim on Monday with an overall AQI of 382 in the ‘very poor’ category for the 11th consecutive day, while 15 monitoring stations recorded readings beyond the 400-mark. Key locations like Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and Rohini reported AQI levels above 440.
Vehicular emissions contributed 21.6% to Delhi’s pollution on Monday, making it the highest pollutant source, while stubble burning accounted for 1.8%, according to data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
The government has also directed offices to implement staggered working hours and minimize vehicle use for commuting to reduce traffic congestion and emissions during peak hours.
By Qamar Farooqui, News360
