New Delhi, November 1, 2026: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced a fresh set of preventive measures to limit air pollution across Delhi-NCR during the first half of November. Under the directions, government and private offices in Delhi and five adjoining districts will be allowed to have no more than 50% of their workforce physically present between November 5 and November 20. The remaining employees will work from home.
The Commission has also ordered restrictions on dust-generating outdoor construction and demolition activities across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) during the same period. The measures are intended to reduce pollution emissions before the region enters the period when air quality has historically deteriorated.
The directions follow an assessment of November air-quality trends between 2018 and 2025, which showed repeated episodes of severe and severe-plus pollution during the early and middle parts of the month.
60-Second Brief: What Changes from November 5?
- Work from home: Offices covered by the order can have up to 50% of their employees attending physically.
- Remaining workforce: The other employees must work from home.
- Duration: November 5 to November 20, 2026.
- Areas covered: Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
- Construction restrictions: Dust-generating outdoor construction and demolition activities will be restricted across the entire NCR.
- Exemptions: Certain essential services, critical infrastructure and national security-related projects are exempt under the order.
Which Areas Must Follow the 50% Office Attendance Rule?
The CAQM order applies to government and private offices operating within the National Capital Territory of Delhi and five specified NCR districts.
These are:
- Delhi
- Gurugram, Haryana
- Faridabad, Haryana
- Sonipat, Haryana
- Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, which includes Noida and Greater Noida
Offices in these areas must limit physical attendance to a maximum of 50% of their staff strength. The remaining employees are required to work remotely during the specified period.
The distinction between the geographical coverage of the two measures is important. The 50% office attendance direction applies to the six listed administrative areas, while the construction restrictions cover the entire NCR.
Will All Private Companies Have to Allow Work From Home?
The direction covers both government and private offices in the specified areas. It is not limited to government departments or a particular category of private employers.
However, the CAQM has provided an exception for industrial establishments and essential services where working from home is not feasible because of the nature of their operations.
This means that organisations whose work requires employees to be physically present may fall under the specified exemption. Employers should examine the applicable order and instructions from the relevant authorities before finalising their attendance arrangements.
For employees, the practical implication is that companies covered by the direction will need to organise staffing and work schedules to comply with the 50% physical attendance limit.
Construction, Demolition and Road Projects Face Restrictions
The second major measure concerns dust-generating construction and demolition work.
From November 5 to November 20, such outdoor activities will be restricted across the entire NCR. The directions cover a wide range of infrastructure and civil construction work, including:
- Highways and roads
- Flyovers and overbridges
- Power transmission lines
- Pipelines
- Telecommunications infrastructure
- Outdoor construction and demolition activities that generate dust
The restrictions are particularly significant for large infrastructure projects because they extend beyond conventional building construction to include several linear public infrastructure works.
Which Projects Are Exempt?
The order provides exemptions for certain essential and critical infrastructure projects. These include work related to:
- Railways and Metro services
- Airports
- Inter-state bus terminals
- Hospitals
- Water supply and sanitation
- National security and defence-related activities
- Projects of national importance
These exemptions are intended to ensure that essential public services and critical infrastructure operations can continue.
Why Has CAQM Announced These Measures?
The Commission examined daily air-quality data for Delhi-NCR during November between 2018 and 2025 before deciding on the preventive restrictions.
The analysis indicated that the region has repeatedly experienced elevated pollution levels during the first half of November. On some days, air quality reached the Severe and Severe Plus categories.
Several factors contribute to the seasonal rise in pollution.
Low wind speeds: When winds remain weak, pollutants can stay concentrated near the ground rather than dispersing quickly.
Unfavourable weather conditions: A shallow atmospheric boundary layer and limited vertical mixing can prevent pollutants from spreading out.
Agricultural residue and biomass burning: Seasonal burning contributes to the pollution load in the wider region.
Local emissions: Vehicles, construction dust, industrial activity and other urban sources add to the overall concentration of pollutants.
The CAQM has described the latest measures as preventive interventions designed to reduce emissions at their sources and limit the accumulation of pollutants during a seasonally vulnerable period.
BS-VI Vehicle Restrictions: Checks at Delhi Borders
Another important part of Delhi’s winter pollution-control measures concerns vehicles entering the national capital.
Restrictions on certain non-BS-VI vehicles came into effect on November 1, 2026, under the revised pollution-control framework. Vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet the prescribed BS-VI emission standards face restrictions on entering the capital.
BS-VI-compliant vehicles, CNG vehicles and electric vehicles are among the categories permitted under the applicable rules and exemptions. A valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) is also important for vehicles covered by the requirements.
Authorities have begun checking vehicles at Delhi’s entry points, including the Singhu border. Commuters and commercial vehicle operators should verify their vehicle’s eligibility and documentation before travelling to Delhi.
The restrictions are scheduled to remain in force until January 31, 2027, subject to the applicable notification and exemptions.
What Employees, Employers and Commuters Should Do
Employees working in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar should check their organisation’s work-from-home arrangements ahead of November 5.
Employers should review staffing requirements and make sure that physical attendance remains within the prescribed limit. Organisations claiming an exemption should verify that their operations fall within the categories covered by the order.
Construction companies and project contractors should check whether their activities are restricted or specifically exempted. Commuters travelling to Delhi in vehicles registered outside the capital should check BS-VI compliance and ensure that their PUCC documentation is valid.
The Bottom Line
Delhi-NCR’s pollution-control measures will affect office attendance, construction schedules and vehicle movement during November. From November 5 to 20, covered offices must operate with no more than half their staff physically present, while dust-generating construction and demolition activities will face restrictions across the entire NCR.
The separate vehicle-entry restrictions that began on November 1 add another layer to the winter pollution-control strategy. The effectiveness of these measures will depend not only on enforcement but also on compliance by employers, construction agencies, vehicle operators and residents.
