Why in news
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposed draft amendments to introduce BS-VII emission norms for passenger vehicles from April 1, 2029.
Key terms
Category M1 Vehicle
Motor vehicles used for passenger transport having no more than eight seats in addition to the driver seat.
Real Driving Emissions (RDE)
Testing protocol measuring pollutants emitted by cars while driven on actual roads using portable emission measurement systems.
Non-Exhaust Emissions
Particulate matter generated from brake wear, tyre abrasion, and road surface wear rather than fuel combustion.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
Subordinate legislation under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 governing construction, equipment, and maintenance of motor vehicles.
What are Bharat Stage Emission Standards?
- National standards instituted under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, regulating output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment.
- Administered by Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change alongside Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- India skipped BS-V and transitioned directly from BS-IV to BS-VI nationwide in April 2020.
Key proposed provisions in BS-VII
- Applies to category M1 vehicles (motor vehicles used for carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in addition to driver's seat) manufactured from April 2029.
- Extends regulation beyond exhaust pipe emissions to mandate checks on brake wear, tyre particulate emissions, and EV battery durability.
- Requires compliance through mandatory Real-World Driving Emissions (RDE) testing and in-service durability monitoring, moving beyond purely laboratory test cycles.
Why it matters
- Aligns Indian auto regulatory frameworks with Euro 7 standards, reducing particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) and nitrogen oxides.
- Forces technological upgrades in internal combustion engine systems and sets baseline durability metrics for electric vehicle batteries.
Prelims facts
- BS-VII rules apply to M1 category vehicles and cover non-exhaust emissions like brake and tyre wear.
- Bharat Stage norms are regulated under Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Mains discussion
- Technological and financial readiness of Indian automobile manufacturers to adapt to non-exhaust emission and battery durability standards.
Source: The Hindu
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