The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi on November 24, 2025, issued directions u/s 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to all Government Offices under GNCTD and all Private Offices operating within the National Capital Territory of Delhi, to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home under Graded Response Action Plan.
Delhi experiences severe winter air pollution with PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ levels far exceeding prescribed ambient standards. The entire NCT of Delhi has already been declared an Air Pollution Control Area under Section 19(1) of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), through its Order dated December 13, 2024, had invoked GRAP Stage-I, II and III on October 14, 2025, October 19, 2025 and November 11, 2025 respectively. The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi also approved staggered office timings for GNCTD and MCD offices (GAD Order dated November 14, 2025).
Subsequently, CAQM issued Order No. 120017/27/GRAP/2021/CAQM dated November 21, 2025, informing about amendments made to the GRAP Schedule based on Supreme Court hearings on November 17, 2025 and November 19, 2025 and stakeholder consultations on November 20, 2025. One key amendment shifted the following measure from Stage-IV to Stage-III:
“NCR State Governments / GNCTD to take a decision on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength and the rest to work from home.”
Given the significant contribution of vehicular emissions to poor air quality under GRAP Stage-III, GNCTD is required to impose additional curbs on transportation and office-related movement.
The following directions are issued for strict compliance by Government and Private Offices in Delhi. These remain effective for the full period of enforcement of GRAP Stage-III, and will automatically re-apply every time Stage-III is re-imposed by CAQM.
• Directions for Government Offices under GNCTD
o All Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments shall attend office regularly.
o Only up to 50% of staff may be physically present.
o Remaining 50% shall work from home.
o Secretaries/HoDs may summon staff to office as needed for continuity of essential and emergency public services.
• Directions for Private Offices in NCT of Delhi
o All private offices must operate with:
o Not more than 50% staff physically present.
o Remaining staff shall mandatorily work from home.
o Additionally, private entities shall:
a. Implement staggered working hours where feasible.
b. Ensure strict compliance with work-from-home norms.
c. Minimise vehicular movement linked to office commutes.
• Exemptions
The following sectors/services are fully exempt:
o Hospitals and public/private health establishments
o Fire Services
o Prisons
o Public Transport services
o Electricity, Water, Sanitation, and related municipal services
o Disaster management and allied services
o Forest and Environment Departments
o Agencies engaged in air-pollution control, enforcement, monitoring, GRAP compliance, dust and biomass burning control
o Any other essential/emergency services
• Implementation Responsibilities
o All HoDs/Organizations, District Magistrates, and Deputy Commissioners of Police shall ensure strict implementation.
o Local bodies, DMs, and DCPs must ensure compliance by all private offices within NCT of Delhi.
[File No. 10 (39)VENV/2021/6539-6556]
