Will Banks in Delhi follow the mandatory 50% Work From Home policy?

The Delhi Government has introduced a mandatory 50% Work-From-Home (WFH) policy as part of its Winter Action Plan and GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) measures to control vehicular pollution and congestion during the winter months.

This applies to all Delhi Government offices, autonomous bodies, and private sector enterprises operating within the Delhi territory.

Companies must limit in-person staff presence to no more than 50% on any given day. The remaining 50% must work remotely. Private firms are advised to adopt flexible/staggered shift times, promote carpooling for employees attending office, and utilize virtual meeting tools to reduce overall intra-city commutes.

Will Banks in Delhi follow the mandatory 50% Work From Home policy? Read the full article to know.

Key Details of the New WFH Mandate

• 50% Remote Work Mandate: Both government and private sector offices operating in Delhi are required to have 50% of their staff work from home, while only 50% attend in-person.
• Duration: The measure will be in effect from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
• Staggered Office Timings: To ease peak-hour traffic and lower emissions, office schedules are being differentiated:
  • MCD Offices: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Delhi Govt Offices: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Additional Transport & Traffic Measures

Alongside the WFH mandate, several related restrictions take effect starting November 1:

1. Doubled Parking Fees: Municipal parking rates will double from November 1 to discourage private vehicle usage (Metro parking remains exempt).
2. “No PUC, No Fuel” Policy: Petrol pumps will require a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) before dispensing fuel, tracked via ANPR cameras.
3. Vehicle Entry Restrictions: Non-BS-VI vehicles registered outside Delhi will face entry restrictions between November 1 and January 31 (EVs and CNG vehicles are exempt).

Exempted Sectors & Services

• Healthcare & Medical Services: Hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and related medical infrastructure.
• Emergency Services: Disaster management, fire services, and law enforcement agencies.
• Public Utilities: Power generation, electricity distribution, and water supply operations.
• Sanitation & Waste Management: Municipal garbage collection, disposal, and public cleanliness maintenance.
• Public Transit: Operations involving public transport networks (such as buses, metro rail services, and transit staff).

Will this new policy apply to Banks?

Banks and financial institutions generally do not transition to a 50% work-from-home model under these anti-pollution orders, because banking is classified under essential public and financial services.

Banking operations, public-dealing branches, treasury functions, and clearing houses are classified as essential public utility and financial infrastructure. Because of this, public and commercial bank branches are generally excluded from physical capacity cutbacks so that public financial services, cash handling, and customer transactions are not disrupted.