The Delhi government announced stringent measures after the capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped into the ‘severe’ category this week. The new rules, which come into effect from today (Thursday), will operate alongside Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) already imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

One of the key steps is a mandatory shift to hybrid work. Delhi labour minister Kapil Mishra said all government and private offices must ensure that only 50 per cent of their staff attend the workplace physically, with the remaining employees working from home. Non-compliance will invite action. However, the order does not apply to emergency and frontline workers, including hospital staff, fire services, sanitation workers, transport services and departments involved in pollution control. Daily-wage labourers are also exempt.