Overview
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published a draft gazette in October 2026 proposing BS‑VII emission norms to be rolled out in phases beginning April 1, 2029 and extending through 2035.
- The proposal expands regulated pollutants beyond exhaust gases to cover non‑exhaust particulates from brakes and tyres and lowers the particulate‑number measurement threshold from 23 nanometres to 10 nanometres.
- The draft sets much tighter caps for heavy vehicles, targeting roughly 20–50 percent emission cuts for trucks and buses, which will likely require engine and pollution‑control upgrades.
- Enforcement would move beyond lab tests by mandating on‑board monitoring systems, real‑world driving emission (RDE) checks and independent post‑sale verification, and the draft says already‑registered BS‑VI vehicles would not be retroactively subject to BS‑VII.
- The government has invited stakeholder and public comments during a 30‑day consultation and officials caution the technical limits, phase dates and compliance rules could change before final notification; the move builds on India’s 2020 jump to BS‑VI and tighter RDE rules introduced in 2023.