Rollout of BS-VII in 3 phases from April 2029 to April 2035

NEW DELHI: Govt is all set to roll out BS-VII emission standards, aligned with Euro 7 norms, in phases, starting April 2029. The new norms will set stricter limits on harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter amid heightened pollution risks across Indian cities. BS-VII will start with new cars and SUVs manufactured from April 2029, followed by small goods delivery and pick-up vans from 2030 and buses and heavy-duty vehicles from April 2031. The new norms for two-wheelers - the biggest contributor to pollution - will, however, be notified later. Unlike BS-VI, which was first rolled out from April 2020, it will not require changes in the refinery infrastructure to produce petrol and diesel suitable for the upgraded emission standards, officials said. It will, however, require the automobile sector to upgrade engines. TOI has learnt that the road transport ministry has approved the proposed timeline, and draft notifications for the three categories of vehicles are expected over the next few days. The proposed emission norms will not affect existing vehicles or their life, including those compliant with BS-VI standards. The proposed standards will strengthen emissions monitoring beyond controlled laboratory tests to ensure vehicles comply with prescribed limits under real-world driving conditions and throughout their operational life. The implementation of all the new norms will be in three phases spanning six years - April 2029 to April 2035 - giving adequate time to industry and testing agencies. According to the finalised norms, the cut-off limits of various emission components for cars and SUVs remain unchanged compared with BS-VI. Particulate number has, however, been reduced fr-om 23 nanometres to 10 nanometres, resulting in improved filtration of pollutants. Smaller particles penetrate deeper into lungs. A person aware of the matter said the proposed change makes the regulation more stringent by capturing ultrafine particles, which have been unregulated thus far. The transition from BS-VI to BS-VII will have more impact on trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, with the proposed standard aimed at reducing emissions in the range of 20-50% across pollutants. This will be more stringent for on-road emissions. People involved in framing the norms said BS-VII goes beyond tailpipe emission by regulating non-exhaust sources such as brake wear and tyre abrasion. Moreover, the new norms will introduce the concept of market surveillance, where independent testing agencies will conduct in-use compliance checks. Officials said the norms are fully aligned with Euro 7 and its implementation, which was also structured in a phased manner, starting Nov 2026 for light-duty vehicles and May 2028 for heavy-duty vehicles. The full rollout will extend up to 2035.