India Proposes BS-VII Emission Norms Starting April 2029

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India has issued a draft notification proposing the implementation of Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) emission standards. Aligning with Europe's Euro 7 norms, the proposal introduces a phased rollout beginning April 1, 2029, for new cars and SUVs. Small goods delivery and pick-up vans will follow in April 2030, with heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and construction equipment integrated by April 2031, extending through April 2035.

The new framework expands pollution controls beyond tailpipe emissions to include limits on particles released from brake and tyre wear. Technical mandates include onboard monitoring for real-time emission and energy tracking, a lowered particulate matter measurement threshold of 10 nanometers, and an Environmental Vehicle Passport to track fuel consumption and battery health. For electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, batteries must retain at least 75% capacity for the first five years or 100,000 km.

Automotive executives have expressed concern that the ambitious timeline may increase development costs and divert engineering resources away from electric vehicle programs. Some manufacturers have suggested a 2032 start date as a more pragmatic alternative to avoid disrupting product launches. The public has 30 days to submit suggestions following the Gazette notification.