Delhiculture & etiquette

From late October to January, Delhi's Air Quality Index routinely exceeds 300 and often passes 400 — categories officially described as 'very poor' and 'severe'. Studies attribute meaningful reductions in life expectancy to sustained exposure. If you have asthma, young children, or a respiratory condition, weigh this seriously before accepting a posting. If you come, budget for good air purifiers in every room you sleep and work in, and treat N95 masks outdoors in December as normal rather than paranoid.

Employment visa holders with a visa valid for more than 180 days must register with the jurisdictional FRRO within 14 days of arrival. It is fully online through e-FRRO — no agent needed. You need passport, address proof, appointment letter, employment contract and proof of income. Delhi's FRRO covers a very large population, so apply early rather than at the deadline.

The Permanent Account Number gates banking, salary and most financial transactions, and without it tax is deducted from your pay at a higher rate. Foreign nationals can apply. Start it in your first week because everything else waits on it.

The National Capital Region spans Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Vehicle registration, professional tax, liquor licensing, and even the applicable tenancy law change at the boundary. The commute between Delhi and Gurgaon at peak can exceed an hour and a half for twenty kilometres. Decide which side you want to be on before you sign anything.

Delhi Metro is one of the best systems in the world — extensive, clean, air-conditioned and cheap — and it reaches Gurgaon and Noida. Living within walking distance of a station is the single biggest quality-of-life decision available to you, both for the commute and because it lets you avoid the worst of the traffic and the roadside air.

May and June regularly exceed 45°C, with the dry 'loo' wind making afternoons genuinely dangerous. Air conditioning is not optional, power cuts during peak demand are common, and an inverter or generator backup in your building matters. The pleasant window is roughly February to March and October.