The Delhi government has notified a permanent Winter Pollution Master Plan under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, introducing a fixed set of anti-pollution measures that will automatically take effect every year from November 1 and remain in force until February 28. According to reports from The Economic Times, Business Standard, ANI, and Lokmat Times, this move replaces the practice of issuing separate orders each winter, bringing together all major winter pollution-control measures into a single framework covering vehicle emissions, construction activities, dust control, open burning and enforcement. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the new framework consolidates various existing orders into a single, clear and stringent system, making compliance easier for all concerned departments, institutions and citizens while ensuring more effective enforcement. The plan, published in the Delhi Gazette on Wednesday, was issued after reviewing air quality data from the past three years, which showed that Delhi's air quality consistently deteriorates between November and mid-February. During 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) between November 1 and February 15 ranged from 312 to 342, while the maximum AQI reached between 461 and 494, based on data from the Department of Environment and Forest. The notification also incorporates the revised GRAP issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and directions issued by the Supreme Court.
The notification introduces year-round rules requiring petrol pumps and CNG stations to supply fuel only to vehicles carrying a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). As reported by The Economic Times, Business Standard, ANI, and Lokmat Times, fuel stations across Delhi will be allowed to dispense petrol, diesel and CNG only to vehicles carrying a valid PUCC, with compliance verified through physical certificates, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems or electronic databases such as VAHAN. From November 1 to January 31, vehicles registered outside Delhi that don't meet BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the city, with exemptions for electric and CNG vehicles, ambulances, fire tenders, police vehicles and other categories. The restriction will not apply to emergency services or categories specifically exempted by the Environment Department. Oil companies, Indraprastha Gas Limited, the Department of Food and Supplies, the Transport Department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Traffic Police will be responsible for implementing this system. Chief Minister Gupta emphasized that to strengthen control over vehicular pollution, only vehicles carrying a valid PUC certificate will be supplied fuel at all petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG stations across Delhi throughout the year, with action taken against vehicles found refuelling without a valid PUC certificate. Verification of PUC compliance will not be limited to physical certificates but will also be carried out through the NPR, vehicle database and other electronic systems.
Between November 1 and January 31, government and private offices must operate with only 50% of employees physically present, with remaining staff working from home. According to The Economic Times, Business Standard, ANI, and Lokmat Times, parking charges at authorized parking lots will be doubled every year from November 1 to February 28, though Delhi Metro Rail Corporation facilities remain exempt. The Chief Minister clarified that hospitals, healthcare services, fire services, prisons, public transport, electricity, water supply, sanitation, disaster management, environmental protection, pollution control, agencies responsible for implementing GRAP and other services declared essential by the Government from time to time will remain exempt from these restrictions to ensure uninterrupted public services. To ease peak-hour traffic congestion, Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will function from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will work from 10 am to 6:30 pm during the same period so that employees do not commute at the same time and traffic pressure is reduced. Private offices have additionally been asked to introduce staggered working hours, ensure compliance with work-from-home arrangements, and promote carpooling, ride-sharing, public buses and other modes of public transport to reduce the number of vehicles used for commuting.
The notification imposes restrictions on construction-related activities during the peak pollution period. Dust-generating demolition work and outdoor civil construction activities will remain prohibited from November 1 to January 31, except for essential public infrastructure projects. A stricter ban on construction and demolition activities will be enforced from December 10 to January 20, with exemptions for urgent government works and emergency situations. During the December 10–January 20 period, vehicles carrying construction materials such as sand, aggregates, stone, bricks, cement and debris will also be barred from entering Delhi, except those engaged in projects of national importance, essential public infrastructure or emergency works. The Chief Minister explained that dust generated by construction activities is one of the major contributors to winter air pollution in Delhi, keeping this view in mind, the Government has introduced clear and binding provisions governing construction activities, the transportation of construction material and dust control at large buildings. Finishing work, plumbing, electrical installations and similar activities within construction sites will continue to be permitted, provided all provisions of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules and dust control norms are strictly followed. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be responsible for monitoring compliance and ensuring enforcement of these provisions.
Commercial high-rise buildings with built-up area exceeding 3,000 square metres must install anti-smog guns or mist systems by August 15, operating throughout the year except during monsoon and peak summer periods from May 1 to September 15. As reported by The Economic Times, Business Standard, ANI, and Lokmat Times, construction sites spread over more than 1,000 square metres will also require mist systems. The Chief Minister emphasized that for the first time, the Delhi Government has introduced mandatory dust-control measures for large commercial buildings, with all commercial buildings with a built-up area of more than 3,000 square metres, including malls, hotels, office buildings and other institutional buildings with a height of G+5 or above, will be required to install anti-smog guns or mist systems within their premises. These installations must be completed by August 15, with the systems remaining operational throughout the year, although their operation will not be mandatory between May 1 and September 15, when the city experiences the monsoon and peak summer season. Resident welfare associations, housing societies, and institutions will be responsible for preventing open burning of waste, leaves, biomass, plastic and other materials within their premises, with authorities directed to undertake continuous monitoring, including drone-based surveillance, particularly during night hours. For the first time, the Delhi Government has introduced institutional accountability in addition to individual responsibility - action will now be taken not only against the person responsible for setting the fire but also against the institution or management found negligent. Every Resident Welfare Association (RWA), housing society, Government and private institution, contractor, agency and all organisations employing staff for security, sanitation, gardening, housekeeping, maintenance or similar services will be responsible for ensuring that no open burning takes place within their premises or in areas under their ownership, possession, management or control. They will be required to establish an effective monitoring mechanism and, wherever necessary, provide adequate heating arrangements for workers through electricity or other approved clean fuels. If an incident of open burning occurs because of negligence or inadequate supervision by any institution, action will be taken against both the institution and the responsible individuals under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and other applicable laws, with environmental compensation also being recovered.
The measures will be overridden if the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invokes stricter measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which categorizes adverse air quality into four stages based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. According to The Economic Times, Business Standard, ANI, and Lokmat Times, CAQM's emergency framework covers Stage I (AQI 201–300), Stage II (AQI 301–400), Stage III (AQI 401–450) and Stage IV (AQI >450). The Chief Minister clarified that making Delhi cleaner and healthier is not the responsibility of the Government alone but of every citizen, with the notification providing a clear, permanent and accountable framework for controlling pollution during the winter season. It will ensure that all departments, institutions, agencies and citizens know in advance which rules will apply during a particular period and what responsibilities each of them will have. The Revenue Department, DPCC and local bodies will be responsible for the effective implementation and monitoring of these rules, with drone-based surveillance also being used, particularly during night hours, to detect such incidents. Any person or entity found violating the directions may face prosecution, environmental compensation, sealing of premises or other action permitted under law.
