Delhi pollution curbs: Will your car be stopped? A guide to Bharat Stage norms

Cars found not to be compliant are to be stopped from entering Delhi and also filed Rs 20,000. Even cars that are BS-VI compliant can be fined Rs 10,000 if found without a valid PUCC.

The crackdown on the transport sector is aimed at reducing emissions from older, more polluting vehicles.

How do you know if your vehicle is BS VI compliant?

For vehicle owners, BS (Bharat Stage) compliance can be checked on the registration certificate (RC), which mentions the emission norms under which the vehicle was certified. Usually, vehicles registered on or after April 1, 2020 are BS VI compliant, as the standard became mandatory nationwide from that date.

Manufacturers also usually mention BS VI compliance in the owner’s manual, and in some cases on stickers near the engine or fuel tank. Authorised dealerships and service centres can also confirm compliance using the vehicle’s registration number.

Further, vehicle owners can check the VAHAN portal on the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways website by entering the license plate number and accessing registration information.

Cars bought before April 2020 will be BS-IV compliant but will not be eligible for BS-VI. Cars bought between 2005 and 2010 will be BS-III compliant whereas those bought between 2001 and 2005 will be BS-II compliant.

What are Bharat Stage emission norms?

Bharat Stage emission norms are India’s standards for regulating pollution from motor vehicles. They set legal limits on exhaust emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The norms are based on European emission standards and apply to all new vehicles sold in the country.

Each successive BS tightens these limits, pushing manufacturers to adopt cleaner engine technologies, better exhaust treatment systems and cleaner fuel.

Why does Delhi have vehicles under different BS norms?

Delhi has historically implemented stricter emission norms earlier than the rest of the country due to its persistent air pollution problem. BS II norms were introduced in the Capital in 2001, BS III in 2005 and BS IV in 2010 – all several years before the nationwide rollout, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

BS VI norms were implemented in Delhi-NCR ahead of the rest of India and became mandatory across the country in April 2020. As vehicles from other states enter Delhi daily, the city’s roads still carry a mix of vehicles operating under different emission standards.

Why are older vehicles more polluting?

Older vehicles emit much higher levels of harmful pollutants. Diesel vehicles, in particular, release large amounts of nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, which contribute to smog and are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Vehicles also emit volatile organic compounds that react in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutants, worsening air quality. Black carbon from diesel exhaust is especially harmful and also contributes to climate warming, according to several studies.

How many such vehicles are there in Delhi-NCR?

The enforcement comes amid concerns raised in an October meeting chaired by the Prime Minister’s Office, where vehicular pollution was flagged as a key contributor to Delhi-NCR’s air quality crisis. Senior officials have noted that nearly 37% of vehicles in the region are heavily polluting, as they comply only with older Bharat Stage I, II or III emission norms.

How is BS VI different from BS IV?

BS VI norms significantly tighten emission limits. For petrol vehicles, nitrogen oxide limits are about 25% lower than under BS IV. For diesel vehicles, nitrogen oxides must be reduced by nearly 68%, while particulate matter emissions are cut by around 82%.

BS VI vehicles also use much cleaner fuel with lower sulphur content, which allows advanced emission-control technologies to function effectively. The testing regime under BS VI is also closer to real-world driving conditions.