Delhi Pollution Hits Startups as Snapdeal, Spinny and Eternal Shift to 50% Office Attendance
Worsening air pollution across Delhi-NCR is forcing companies to rethink their workplace arrangements, with startups and established businesses introducing hybrid working schedules to comply with government restrictions. Snapdeal, used-car marketplace Spinny and Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, are among the companies limiting physical office attendance to 50% as authorities intensify efforts to control winter pollution.
The changes follow an October 30 directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which requires government and private offices in Delhi and five neighbouring National Capital Region districts to ensure that at least half their employees work from home between November 5 and November 20. The move is intended to reduce vehicle emissions associated with daily office commuting as pollution levels deteriorate during the winter season.
Delhi Pollution Forces Startups to Adopt Hybrid Work
The latest restrictions have pushed companies across Delhi-NCR to reorganise employee attendance and introduce remote-working arrangements.
Under the CAQM directive, no more than 50% of employees can attend offices physically during the specified period. The remaining workforce must work from home, subject to the applicable rules and exemptions.
The restrictions cover Delhi and five neighbouring districts:
- Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat in Haryana.
- Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, which includes Noida, in Uttar Pradesh.
The directive applies to both government and private offices in these locations. Industrial establishments and essential services where working remotely is not feasible have been exempted.
The restrictions reflect the authorities’ attempt to reduce pollution at its sources by limiting unnecessary commuting and associated vehicle emissions.
Snapdeal Moves Nearly Half Its Workforce to Work From Home
E-commerce company Snapdeal has implemented a remote-working arrangement for nearly half its employees.
The company said that approximately 50% of its workforce would work remotely between November 5 and November 13 in line with the government directive.
Snapdeal also indicated that it would review its arrangements based on further government guidance.
The company’s decision reflects how pollution-control measures are directly affecting everyday corporate operations, particularly for businesses with large office-based teams.
For companies operating in the region, managing employee attendance has become an important operational requirement rather than simply an internal workplace preference.
Spinny Implements 50% Work-From-Home Arrangement
Used-car marketplace Spinny has also shifted to the mandated hybrid working model.
Founder Niraj Singh told Moneycontrol that the company implemented a 50% work-from-home arrangement immediately after receiving the government circular.
Spinny’s decision follows the CAQM directive requiring businesses to limit physical office attendance and ensure that the remaining employees work remotely.
The change demonstrates how the restrictions extend beyond traditional technology companies to businesses operating in sectors such as online vehicle marketplaces and automotive services.
Companies must now coordinate employee schedules while maintaining their regular business operations.
Eternal Restricts Attendance at Its Gurugram Office
Eternal, which operates Zomato and Blinkit, has also restricted physical attendance at its Gurugram office to 50%.
According to a source cited by Moneycontrol, the company is complying with directions issued by the Gurugram district commissioner and has adjusted its office attendance accordingly.
The development is significant because Eternal operates across food delivery, quick commerce and technology-enabled services, businesses that depend on large operational teams and coordination across multiple functions.
While employees who can perform their responsibilities remotely are covered by the hybrid arrangement, delivery operations and other essential activities cannot necessarily be shifted to work-from-home models.
The restrictions therefore require companies to distinguish between office-based functions and roles that require physical presence.
Moglix Continues Office Operations With Air Purifiers
Not all companies have adopted the same approach.
B2B commerce platform Moglix told Moneycontrol that its employees continue to work from the office.
The company said its workplaces are equipped with air purifiers and maintained to provide a healthy and comfortable environment for employees.
Rahul Garg, founder and CEO of Moglix, Credlix and Cognilix, said employee health and safety remain central to the company’s operations. He added that the company is monitoring the air quality situation and will review its arrangements as conditions and official guidance evolve.
Moglix’s approach highlights the different ways businesses are responding to the pollution crisis, although companies must comply with applicable government directions.
What Is the CAQM’s 50% Attendance Rule?
The Commission for Air Quality Management issued its October 30 directive as part of preventive measures ahead of the region’s historically severe winter pollution period.
The order requires government and private offices in Delhi and five neighbouring NCR districts to limit physical attendance to 50% between November 5 and November 20.
| Detail | Government directive |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Commission for Air Quality Management |
| Order date | October 30, 2026 |
| Implementation period | November 5–20, 2026 |
| Physical office attendance | Maximum 50% |
| Remaining workforce | Work from home |
| Coverage | Delhi and five neighbouring NCR districts |
| Exemptions | Industrial establishments and essential services where remote work is not feasible |
The directive is part of a broader pollution-control strategy that includes restrictions on dust-generating construction and demolition activities across the NCR during the same period.
In Gurugram, the district administration issued a separate implementation order requiring offices to prepare attendance rosters and maintain records for inspection.
Delhi Has a Separate and Longer Work-From-Home Requirement
Delhi’s restrictions are not limited to the CAQM’s November 5–20 order.
Under the capital’s separate winter pollution action plan, government and private offices have been directed to ensure that no more than 50% of employees attend physically between November 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027.
Private establishments have also been asked to introduce staggered working hours and encourage carpooling, ride-sharing and public transport.
This means the duration of the attendance restrictions differs between Delhi and the neighbouring NCR districts.
| Location | Attendance restriction period |
|---|---|
| Delhi | November 1, 2026–January 31, 2027 |
| Gurugram | November 5–20, 2026 |
| Faridabad | November 5–20, 2026 |
| Sonipat | November 5–20, 2026 |
| Ghaziabad | November 5–20, 2026 |
| Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) | November 5–20, 2026 |
The distinction is important for companies operating offices across multiple NCR locations because their workplace arrangements may need to follow different timelines.
Delhi’s AQI Approaches Severe Levels After Diwali
The workplace changes come amid a sharp deterioration in Delhi’s air quality following Diwali celebrations.
According to Moneycontrol, the capital’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached nearly 390 on November 10, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Several monitoring stations recorded readings above 400, which fall into the ‘severe’ category.
Winter weather conditions make the pollution problem more difficult to control.
Low wind speeds, a shallow atmospheric boundary layer and reduced vertical mixing prevent pollutants from dispersing effectively. Local emissions, agricultural residue burning and biomass burning can add further pollution to the region.
Historical air quality data from 2018 to 2025 also showed recurring severe pollution episodes during the first and middle weeks of November.
The CAQM introduced the restrictions to reduce emissions and limit the accumulation of pollutants during this vulnerable period.
Construction Restrictions Add to Business Challenges
The work-from-home directive is only one part of the wider pollution-control measures.
The CAQM has also restricted dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction activities across the NCR between November 5 and November 20.
These restrictions affect construction companies, infrastructure contractors and businesses involved in projects that generate significant dust.
Certain essential public infrastructure projects, including work related to railways, metro services, airports, hospitals and water supply, have been provided exemptions under specified conditions.
Together, the measures demonstrate how winter pollution is affecting several sectors of the regional economy, from office-based startups to construction and transportation businesses.
The Bigger Picture
Delhi-NCR’s pollution crisis is increasingly becoming an operational challenge for businesses rather than only an environmental and public health concern. Companies must balance employee safety, regulatory compliance and business continuity while managing the effects of poor air quality. The decisions taken by Snapdeal, Spinny and Eternal illustrate how hybrid working is becoming an important part of corporate responses to seasonal pollution.
The situation also raises broader questions about the long-term economic cost of recurring winter pollution. Reduced office attendance, construction restrictions, commuting changes and workplace adjustments can affect productivity and business planning. While temporary work-from-home measures can reduce some commuting-related emissions, lasting improvements will require coordinated action on transport, industrial emissions, construction dust, waste burning and other pollution sources.
Looking Ahead
Companies across Delhi-NCR will continue adjusting their workplace arrangements as authorities monitor air quality and issue further directions. The November 20 deadline for the CAQM’s regional order will be an important point for businesses in the five neighbouring districts, while Delhi’s separate restrictions are scheduled to continue until January 31, 2027. Any extension or modification will depend on official guidance and pollution conditions.
For startups and larger companies, the immediate priority will be maintaining business operations without compromising employee safety or violating attendance requirements. However, the recurring need for emergency workplace restrictions highlights the importance of addressing the underlying causes of Delhi-NCR’s winter pollution rather than relying on temporary hybrid-working arrangements every year.
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