Work-from-home kicks in sooner, govt tells pvt firms to have 50% staff onsite, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective immediately.
• Private offices in Delhi are advised to operate with 50% onsite workforce capacity.
• Staggered office timings for government and municipal offices were mandated until February 2026.
• Changes were triggered after Supreme Court hearings on November 17 and 19.

Detailed Insights:

• The revised GRAP schedule means measures like staggered timings and work-from-home will begin at lower pollution levels.
• Previously, staggered office timings were to be implemented when AQI reached the 'Very Poor' category, now it will be implemented when it enters the 'Poor' category.
• Measures that previously applied under GRAP Stage II will now be implemented under GRAP Stage I.
• GRAP Stage IV measures, including work-from-home, have been shifted to GRAP Stage III.
• The order directs agencies to introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel and augment public transport by adding CNG and electric buses.
• State governments have the option to apply staggered timings to other NCR districts as well.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): The main pollution control watchdog for the Delhi-NCR region.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): A set of pollution-control restrictions that take effect in stages as air quality deteriorates.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): An index for reporting daily air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is.