Delhi enforces 50% remote work for gov't and private offices due to hazardous air pollution, marking first mandatory private-sector order.

Delhi has mandated a 50% work-from-home policy for government and private offices amid severe air pollution, with the city’s AQI reaching 382—classified as "very poor"—for multiple days. The order, under GRAP Stage III and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, requires half of staff to work remotely, with essential services exempt. It marks the first time private offices face a mandatory directive, enforceable by fines. Staggered hours are encouraged to reduce traffic. Vehicular emissions are the largest pollution source, contributing 21.6%. Fifteen monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 400, indicating "severe" pollution. The entire Union Territory is now an Air Pollution Control Area.