Delhi orders 50% office attendance as toxic air triggers GRAP-3

Delhi’s worsening air pollution has pushed the city into GRAP-3, prompting the government and private offices to operate with only 50 percent staff on-site, while the rest work from home.

IBNS • 24 Nov 2025, 05:40 pm

Delhi orders 50% office attendance as toxic air triggers GRAP-3

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The directive, issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), comes as the capital battles yet another severe winter pollution spike.

Schools have already been instructed to limit outdoor activities, including halting children's play outside when air quality reaches the “very poor” zone.

Attendance in government offices was expected to be low anyway after Delhi declared a public holiday to mark the 350th Shaheedi Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Delhi relies on the graded GRAP system to decide how much restriction the city can absorb as pollution worsens each winter.

CAQM monitors the AQI across the entire NCR before activating each level.

On Saturday, the Delhi government again advised private offices to stick to the 50% in-person rule as GRAP-3 measures kicked in.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said all GRAP-3 rules are being implemented “with full seriousness” and are being monitored around the clock.