Key Features of the Scheme
Nodal Agencies & Implementation
- Funded through National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
- Jointly implemented by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)
- Total financial outlay: Rs 9,585 crore
- Rs 5,041 crore direct contribution from Central Government
- Rs 1,601 crore in tax concessions from participating states
Disproportionate Emission Impact
- Trucks and buses constitute only 3% of total NCR fleet but account for 36% of PM2.5 emissions from transport sector
- A single pre-BS heavy-duty vehicle emits pollutants equivalent to 14 BS-VI vehicles
- BS-IV vehicle emits 2.7 times more than BS-VI counterpart
Scrapping & Replacement Mandate
- BS-III or older vehicles: Must be mandatorily scrapped at Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs)
- BS-IV vehicles: Can be scrapped or sold outside NCR in non-NCAP cities/towns
Special Conditions for Delhi
- Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs): 100% electric mandatory
- Buses: BS-VI CNG or electric
- Government vehicles: Entirely excluded from the scheme
Financial Incentives
Central Government:
- 5% interest subvention on vehicle loans for five years
- Monthly fuel vouchers up to Rs 4,800
- Lump-sum benefits for EV purchases
- Certificate of Deposit trading benefits
State Governments:
- Complete waiver of registration fees
- Up to 100% motor vehicle tax concessions for new vehicles (for 10 years)
- Amnesty on pending liabilities for old vehicles
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs):
- 8% discount on ex-showroom prices
Implementation Mechanism
- Fully digital through integrated portal for real-time eligibility checks
- Automated subvention claims
- Overseeing Empowered Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary
- Executed locally by District Collectors/Magistrates
Evolution of Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Norms
Regulatory Framework
- BS emission norms are legally enforced standards regulating vehicular air pollutants
- Framed by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Implemented by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- Aligned with European (Euro) standards
Targeted Pollutants
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Hydrocarbons (HC)
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
- Particulate Matter (PM)
Historical Timeline
- Mashelkar Committee (2002): Initial guidance for phased implementation
- 1999 Supreme Court mandate: Introduced India 2000 (BS-I) standards
- BS-IV: Implemented by 2017
- BS-VI: Implemented nationwide in April 2020 (India skipped BS-V)
BS-VI Emission Reduction Targets
- Petrol vehicles: 25% reduction in NOx
- Diesel vehicles:
- HC+NOx: 43% reduction
- NOx: 68% reduction
- PM: 82% reduction
- Fuel sulphur content: Reduced from 50 mg/kg (BS-IV) to 10 mg/kg (BS-VI)
Real Driving Emissions (RDE)
- Implemented in April 2023 under BS-VI Phase-II
- Ensures vehicles meet pollution compliance under actual on-road conditions
Delhi's Early Adoption
- BS-II: 2001
- BS-III: 2005
- BS-IV: 2010
- Result: Highly mixed vehicular fleet today
Major Causes of Delhi's Air Pollution
- Stubble Burning: Crop residue in Punjab/Haryana releases PM2.5, CO, CH4, VOCs
- Vehicular Emissions: Transport sector major source of ground-level ozone
- North-Westerly Winds: 72% of winter winds transport smoke/dust from NW India/Pakistan
- Atmospheric Stagnation: Low wind speeds prevent pollutant dispersion
- Temperature Inversion: Warm air layer traps pollutants near surface
- Biomass Burning: Domestic burning, firecrackers, dust storms
Government Initiatives Related to Air Pollution
- Graded Response Action Plan (Delhi)
- SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research)
- Air Quality Index
- Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine
- National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)
- Polluter Pay Principle
Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Article 21: Right to clean environment (expanded interpretation)
- Environmental Protection Act, 1986: Framework for pollution control
- NGT Act, 2010: Specialized tribunal for environmental disputes