Amidst the air pollution crisis in Delhi, government instructs all government and private employees for a 50% work from home. This is part of the Graded Response Action Plan for tackling the increasing pollution issue of the city. And the government also warned that those who will violate this will face consequences in terms of fines. The Commission for Air Quality Management enforced its most stringent emergency measures on December 15, as the capital’s air quality peaked at 498. These GRAP IV restrictions were triggered after the morning’s ‘severe plus’ conditions worsened from the previous day. By implementing these protocols, authorities responded to Central Pollution Control Board data to mitigate the season’s worst pollution crisis. The government has also assured a ten thousand rupees compensation for the registered construction workers who are unable to work due to the ban on construction work because of this pollution.
Educational institutions have had to adapt rapidly as the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced Stage IV measures. To protect the health of younger citizens, the Directorate of Education has directed all schools, including government-aided and private establishments to shift to a hybrid learning model for students in Classes 1 to 9 and Class 11. For the youngest learners (up to Class 5), many schools have transitioned entirely to online classes to avoid the morning smog peaks. However, in an effort to avoid disrupting critical academic cycles, Classes 10 and 12 are currently continuing with physical attendance, given their approaching board examinations, though outdoor activities and morning assemblies have been strictly prohibited across all year groups.
The current atmospheric crisis began to manifest sharply around 12 December, when a feeble Western Disturbance led to a dramatic drop in wind speeds, trapping local emissions near the ground. Over the previous few days, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has fluctuated dangerously within the 'severe' and 'severe plus' brackets; after peaking at 498 on 15 December, the city saw a marginal, yet deceptive, improvement to the 'very poor' category as wind directions shifted slightly. Despite these minor fluctuations, the broader trend since the start of the week reveals a persistent accumulation of toxic PM2.5 and PM10 particles, driven by temperature inversion and a lack of vertical dispersion. This "stagnant atmosphere" has effectively turned the National Capital Region into a gas chamber, forcing the government to maintain the most stringent emergency protocols until weather conditions provide a natural clearing of the haze.