The Delhi government has intensified pollution control measures amidst alarming air quality levels. This has led to a renewed emphasis on Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms. Recently, private vehicles not compliant with BS-VI and registered outside Delhi have been prohibited from entering the city.
Furthermore, fuel stations are now restricted to selling fuel only to vehicles possessing a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). Non-compliant vehicles may incur fines of ₹20,000. Even BS-VI vehicles can face penalties of ₹10,000 if they lack a valid PUCC. These actions are directed towards minimizing emissions from older, more polluting vehicles, contributing to efforts aimed at reducing worsening air pollution in the Capital.
Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms represent India’s legally mandated standards to regulate air pollutants emitted by vehicles. Established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and enforced by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), these norms align closely with European emission standards (Euro norms). They apply to all new vehicles manufactured and sold across India.
India has progressively tightened vehicular emission standards to combat urban air pollution:
BS norms set upper limits for several key vehicular pollutants, including:
Each successive BS standard significantly tightens these limits.
Modern emission-control technologies include:
Testing procedures have also become more realistic, closely mirroring real-world driving conditions.
These norms play a critical role in:
The presence of mixed BS standards in Delhi arises from the city adopting stricter norms ahead of the national timeline due to severe air pollution. Delhi implemented BS II in 2001, BS III in 2005, and BS IV in 2010—significantly earlier than other regions. Although BS VI became mandatory nationwide in April 2020, vehicles from other states adhering to older standards still enter the city, leading to a blend of emission norms on Delhi's roads.
Older vehicles are major contributors to air pollution, emitting substantially higher levels of harmful pollutants due to the absence of advanced emission-control technologies. Diesel vehicles, particularly, release considerable amounts of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, exacerbating smog and health issues. They also emit volatile organic compounds that contribute to secondary pollutants in the atmosphere. Additionally, black carbon from diesel exhaust not only harms public health but accelerates climate change.
A notable proportion of vehicles in Delhi-NCR remains highly polluting. Government assessments reveal that approximately 37% of vehicles in the area meet only the older Bharat Stage I, II, or III norms, significantly contributing to the air quality crisis.
BS VI norms impose stricter pollution limits compared to BS IV. For petrol vehicles, nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits are reduced by around 25%. Diesel vehicles must achieve a nearly 68% reduction in NOx emissions, while particulate matter (PM) emissions are cut by approximately 82%. BS VI vehicles utilize cleaner, low-sulphur fuel, enabling advanced emission-control technologies to function effectively. Moreover, BS VI introduces more rigorous testing procedures to ensure lower on-road emissions.
Q1. What are BS-VI emission norms?
Answer: BS-VI emission norms are India's standards for regulating pollutants emitted by vehicles, implemented to improve air quality and public health.
Q2. Why are older vehicles more polluting?
Answer: Older vehicles lack advanced emission-control technologies, leading to higher emissions of harmful pollutants compared to newer models.
Q3. What penalties exist for non-compliant vehicles?
Answer: Non-compliant vehicles can face fines of ₹20,000, while BS-VI vehicles without a valid PUCC may incur a ₹10,000 penalty.
Q4. How do BS-VI norms affect public health?
Answer: By reducing harmful pollutants
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