Delhi Employees to Work from Home Amid Pollution Crisis

In response to escalating pollution levels, the Delhi government has introduced a work-from-home policy for employees from November to February. This initiative mandates that 50% of the workforce in both public and private sectors work remotely, while exempting those in emergency services. The policy coincides with the activation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which will enforce stricter measures as air quality worsens. Additional actions include increased parking fees and construction bans. Discover the full details of this significant policy change.

By Ambika Singh Sep 29, 2026, 12:41 IST

New Work-from-Home Policy for Delhi Employees

In a bid to address the rising pollution levels, employees in Delhi will have the opportunity to work remotely for a duration of four months. The Delhi government has introduced a strategy aimed at reducing pollution, which requires that 50% of the workforce in all offices across the city work from home from November through February. Furthermore, offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will adjust their operating hours to 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with similar changes expected in government offices. Below, we outline the eligibility criteria for this work-from-home initiative.

Eligibility for Work-from-Home
To combat pollution and safeguard public health against poor air quality, the Delhi government plans to enforce these regulations in both private and public sector workplaces. The mandate for 50% of employees to work from home will apply universally to all offices—both government and private—effective from November 1 until February 28.

However, not all employees will be affected; those working in public health and emergency services will be exempt from this requirement. In the private sector, companies may adopt an 'odd-even' system, allowing employees to alternate between working from home and the office on different days.

Implementation of GRAP and Additional Measures
As winter approaches, Delhi faces an increase in hazardous air quality. To tackle this issue, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be activated. As pollution levels rise, the intensity of the measures will escalate, resulting in bans on certain construction activities and restrictions on older diesel vehicles. This year, the government has preemptively announced these regulations ahead of GRAP's formal implementation. Alongside the work-from-home policy, the Delhi government is also increasing parking fees, prohibiting construction activities, managing dust, ensuring proper waste disposal, enhancing green spaces, and enforcing the 'No PUCC, No Fuel' rule.