50% work from home in Delhi-NCR till 20 November: Who's covered and who isn't

From 5 to 20 November, state government and private offices in Delhi and five NCR districts can have only up to 50% of staff attending in person. The rest must work from home. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued the order on 30 October under Section 12 of its 2021 Act.

The office rule covers the National Capital Territory of Delhi plus Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, which includes Noida. It doesn't name other NCR districts. So an office in another NCR district may not be covered by this rule, even though construction curbs apply there.

Industrial establishments and essential services are outside the rule where remote work isn't feasible. Reports don't list which services count or explain who decides what's "not feasible". Factories, hospitals and similar on-site work are likely to be most affected by that test. Employees in doubt should ask HR what their company has decided.

Dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction are restricted across all of NCR, not just the six office areas. Linear work such as highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and telecom projects is included. Railways, Metro, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospitals, water supply, sanitation, defence and projects of national importance are exempt.

Delhi's average AQI in October was 166, the lowest October figure in eight years and well below 223 in 2025. So why this order? CAQM calls it preventive. It reviewed November data from 2018 to 2025, which showed recurring spikes, including "Severe+" days. By 4 November, Delhi's AQI had already reached 377.

This order isn't a GRAP stage. GRAP Stage II has been active since 2 November, and Stage III could follow if AQI stays at 401-450 or crosses that range. Delhi's Winter Action Plan also has its own 50% or two-days-a-week remote work measure from 1 November, People Matters reports. So three sets of rules may apply at once.

Reports we reviewed don't give an order number, penalties or an enforcement agency. They also don't say how companies should choose the 50%, or if the window will be extended beyond 20 November. Check your employer's circular for your attendance pattern. If AQI worsens, GRAP Stage III could bring further curbs.