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Amid worsened air quality, schools in Noida, Ghaziabad and in the national capital have switched to hybrid mode. The step is taken to limit the exposure of students to the polluting air that surrounds Delhi NCR. As of now, no notification has been released for Gurugram schools. We will update this news article once there is an official confirmation.
| ‘Air still smells toxic:’ Delhi schools back to physical classes amid alarming AQI
Earlier in Delhi, for classes up to Class 10 and Class 11 from Monday, following the implementation of Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) due to severe air pollution levels, according to the Directorate of School Education, Delhi.
In an official order, the Directorate said the decision has been taken in compliance with directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which on December 13 invoked Stage-IV of GRAP after Delhi’s Air Quality Index crossed the ‘Severe+’ threshold. Under the hybrid model, schools will be allowed to hold both physical and online classes, wherever online education is feasible.
Students from pre‑nursery to Class 5 will continue with fully online classes until further notice. Meanwhile, Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11 will follow a hybrid system, as per a circular by the Noida school authority.
In Ghaziabad, the District Inspector of Schools announced that classes from Pre‑Nursery and Nursery up to Class 5 will be held entirely online, while Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11 will operate in a hybrid format. The official order stated that, due to the negative impact on students’ health, these arrangements will be in effect from December 14, 2025, until further notice. It also instructed all school heads and coaching centre operators in the district to strictly adhere to the directives.
Under GRAP Stage-IV, authorities typically impose emergency restrictions including a ban on most construction and demolition activities, curbs on the entry of non-essential diesel trucks into Delhi, restrictions on certain categories of vehicles, and advisories for offices to reduce physical attendance through work-from-home or staggered timings. Outdoor activities are discouraged, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
In addition to school-related measures, the Delhi government has instructed both government and private offices to reduce on‑site attendance. While administrative secretaries and department heads must report to the office regularly, overall physical attendance cannot exceed 50 per cent.
The remaining employees are required to work from home, although senior officials may summon staff when necessary to maintain essential and emergency services. Private offices have also been told to limit in‑person attendance to half of their workforce, with the rest working remotely.
