Govt proposes BS-VII emission norms from April 2029, brings electric cars under stricter rules

The Centre has proposed introducing Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) emission standards for passenger vehicles from April 1, 2029, marking a major overhaul of automobile pollution regulations with stricter exhaust limits, real-world driving tests and new requirements covering electric vehicle batteries, brake dust and tyre wear.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and invited public comments within 30 days before finalising the regulations.

The proposed standards will initially apply to category M1 vehicles, primarily passenger cars, manufactured from April 2029. Additional requirements will be introduced in phases beginning April 2031 and April 2035, giving automobile manufacturers and component suppliers time to adapt to the new regulatory framework.

India currently follows Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards, introduced nationwide in April 2020. The proposed BS-VII framework seeks to expand pollution control beyond conventional tailpipe emissions by regulating particles released from brakes and tyres, while introducing battery durability and monitoring requirements for electric vehicles.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟵 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱

Under the draft notification, the first phase will take effect on April 1, 2029, introducing BS-VII exhaust emission limits for passenger vehicles.

The initial requirements will cover gaseous pollutants, particulate emissions, evaporative emissions, fuel consumption, electric energy consumption and battery durability.

The second phase, scheduled for April 1, 2031, will introduce restrictions on brake-particle emissions and tyre abrasion, addressing pollution generated by vehicle components rather than fuel combustion alone.

Further tightening is proposed from April 1, 2035, including a common brake-particle emission limit across different powertrain technologies and additional particle-number controls.

Several technical thresholds, including certain tyre-abrasion limits and battery-related requirements, will be notified separately.

The phased approach is intended to give manufacturers sufficient time to develop compliant technologies and modify production processes.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹, 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀

The proposed regulations establish specific limits for major pollutants emitted by petrol and diesel engines.

For positive-ignition engines, primarily petrol-powered vehicles, the carbon monoxide limit has been proposed at 1,000 milligrams per kilometre, while the nitrogen oxides limit has been set at 60 mg per km.

For compression-ignition engines, mainly diesel vehicles, the proposed carbon monoxide limit is 500 mg per km and the nitrogen oxides limit is 80 mg per km.

The particulate mass limit has been proposed at 4.5 mg per km for both engine categories.

The standards will cover vehicles operating on petrol, diesel, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, methanol and ethanol-blended fuels.

Flex-fuel and bi-fuel vehicles will also come under the proposed framework.

Manufacturers will be required to declare and label compatibility with ethanol blends exceeding 20 per cent.

The draft additionally provides for a separate BS-VII-G approval category for petrol and diesel vehicles equipped with geofencing technology.

𝗘𝗩𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀

A significant feature of the proposed regulations is the inclusion of electric vehicles under requirements relating to battery durability and non-exhaust emissions.

Although electric vehicles do not produce conventional tailpipe emissions, they can generate particulate pollution through braking and tyre wear.

Under the draft, batteries fitted in pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids must retain at least 75 per cent of their performance during the first five years or 100,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

The minimum retention requirement will be 67 per cent for up to eight years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

These provisions are intended to establish minimum battery performance standards over extended periods of vehicle use.

The framework also introduces requirements for monitoring electric energy consumption and battery health, allowing authorities and vehicle owners to assess performance over time.

𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆

For the first time under the proposed Bharat Stage framework, pollution from brake systems and tyre abrasion will be subject to dedicated regulatory limits.

From April 1, 2031, pure electric vehicles will face a brake-particle mass limit of 3 mg per km.

Hybrid vehicles, fuel-cell vehicles and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles will have a higher initial limit of 7 mg per km.

However, from April 1, 2035, the proposed limit will be standardised at 3 mg per km across all powertrain technologies.

The regulations will also introduce abrasion limits for C1-category tyres from April 2031, although the numerical thresholds will be notified separately.

These measures recognise that vehicle-related particulate pollution does not originate exclusively from exhaust pipes.

Even vehicles operating without conventional combustion engines can release fine particles through mechanical wear, making non-exhaust emissions an important component of the proposed regulatory framework.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬

The draft seeks to strengthen compliance by requiring vehicles to meet emission standards under actual driving conditions rather than relying solely on laboratory testing.

From April 1, 2030, vehicle type approval will include on-road emission testing using portable emission measurement systems.

The proposed conformity factor for nitrogen oxides and particle-number emissions has been set at 1.0.

Manufacturers will also have to demonstrate that vehicles comply with prescribed limits during normal operation and continue meeting regulatory requirements after entering service.

The draft introduces on-board monitoring systems capable of detecting emissions reaching at least 2.5 times the applicable limit.

Vehicles will also require on-board diagnostics and systems to monitor fuel consumption and electric energy consumption.

Fuel-consumption data must be accessible from April 1, 2030, while broader monitoring data will become accessible from April 1, 2032, including through over-the-air communication.

𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Another major proposal is the introduction of an Environmental Vehicle Passport, designed to provide vehicle owners with information about the environmental performance of their cars.

The passport will include details such as fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and battery state of health, where applicable.

The draft also provides for displaying relevant information through in-vehicle systems.

The measure is intended to improve transparency by making environmental performance data accessible beyond the initial vehicle certification process.

Manufacturers will be required to ensure emission compliance for at least eight years or 160,000 kilometres, with an additional lifetime compliance period extending to 10 years or 200,000 kilometres.

The proposed rules therefore shift the focus from testing vehicles at the manufacturing stage to monitoring their environmental performance throughout a substantial part of their operational life.

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲

The proposed transition to BS-VII will require automobile manufacturers, battery suppliers, brake-system manufacturers and tyre companies to prepare for new certification and compliance requirements.

The draft gives carmakers approximately two and a half years before the first phase takes effect, while component and tyre suppliers will face separate implementation deadlines.

The government will consider public feedback before finalising the amendments.

Once notified, the standards will represent the next major stage in India's vehicle emission regulations, extending pollution control from conventional exhaust emissions to broader environmental impacts associated with passenger vehicles.