Fresh anti-pollution measures, including work-from-home policies, a ban on older vehicles, and a mandatory PUC certificate, take effect from today, December 18, to curb pollution. These stringent steps were announced after Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category this week.
These curbs were announced in addition to the GRAP IV restrictions invoked by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) amid deteriorating pollution levels and public pressure to tackle the issue. Delhi labour minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday said that all institutions, including government and private, must switch to work from home for 50 percent of the staff or face action. The rule, however, comes with several exceptions.
Work from Home Guidelines
- All registered and verified construction workers affected by the construction stoppage will receive Rs 10,000 DBT in their accounts.
- 2. 50% work from home is mandatory in all government and private offices in Delhi, exemption for essential services like health, etc.
- All private offices in Delhi must ensure that 50% of their staff attend the workplace physically, while others wfh mandatorily.
पॉल्यूशन को देखते हुए दिल्ली सरकार के दो बड़े निर्णय :
1. निर्माण कार्य रुकने से प्रभावित सभी रजिस्टर्ड और वेरिफाइड निर्माण मजदूरों के खातों में ₹ 10,000 DBT होंगे
---Advertisement---2. दिल्ली के सभी सरकारी व प्राइवेट दफ्तरों में 50% वर्क फ्रॉम होम मैंडेटरी, स्वास्थ्य जैसी आवश्यक सेवाओं के लिए… pic.twitter.com/Lh3DNeItdt
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) December 17, 2025
Mandatory PUC certificates
Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that vehicle owners without a valid PUC certificate will be unable to obtain fuel at petrol pumps starting Thursday. The Pollution Under Control certificates are issued to vehicles by authorised centres following a pollution emission check – Rs 60 for two and three-wheelers, Rs 80 for 4-wheelers, and Rs 100 for diesel-driven vehicles. It is valid for 1 year for Bharat Stage 4 and Bharat Stage 6 compliant vehicles.
Ban on vehicles carrying construction materials
Trucks and other vehicles carrying construction materials will be banned from entering the national capital. Environment Minister Sirsa has urged commuters coming from outside Delhi to bring vehicles that comply with BS-6 emission standards.
SC allows ban on vehicles older than BS 4
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ended protection against BS-3 and below vehicles in Delhi. Now, all vehicles below the BS-6 category and registered outside will be restricted from entering the capital when GRAP 3 and 4 are in place.
