New Delhi: Authorities in Delhi have ordered schools to adopt hybrid learning for students up to Class IX and Class XI, allowing a mix of in-person and online classes to protect them from hazardous air pollution levels gripping the capital.
The directive from the Directorate of Education applies to all government, government-aided, and unaided recognized private schools, as well as those under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and Delhi Cantonment Board. It mandates the provision of both physical and virtual attendance options where possible, effective immediately and until further notice.
This measure was prompted by the Commission for Air Quality Management’s activation of Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to prevent further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR.
Classes for students in Class X and XII will proceed as usual in physical mode, given their upcoming board examinations.
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Under Stage-IV GRAP, additional curbs include a complete halt to construction and demolition activities, along with restrictions on the entry of non-essential trucks carrying high pollutants into the city.
The move follows a sharp rise in the Air Quality Index (AQI), which surpassed the 400 mark—classified as severe—in multiple areas of the region.
In a related step, the Delhi government has instructed government and private offices to transition at least 50 percent of their workforce to remote work arrangements. A similar work-from-home order was briefly enforced in November under GRAP-3 but was revoked once conditions improved.
The latest actions underscore ongoing efforts to mitigate health risks from persistent smog, particularly for vulnerable groups like children.
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