Indian Armed Forces’ Vehicles To Get Exemption From BS-VI Norms Set To Be Introduced Next Year

The Indian armed forces and the paramilitary wings’ vehicles will get exemption from stringent BS-VI emission norms that are set to be introduced from April next year, reports Hindustan Times.

From 1 April 2020, all the new vehicles in the country will need to conform to the BS-VI emission norms. The stringent emission norms lay down drastically tighter emission requirements for vehicles compared to the BS-VI norms applicable at present.

The fifth stage of the emission norms was skipped by the government as the concerns over rapidly increasing pollution called for strong steps.

According to the report, the defence vehicles were earlier exempted from BS-IV norms in 2016 under rule 115 of the emission rules of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules.

“It is a practice followed worldwide. BS-VI compliant vehicles have certain technical parameters and they cannot function in tough terrains where military vehicles are deployed. Sensors of BS-IV and BS-VI push vehicles to limp-home mode,” an official familiar with the development was quoted in the report as saying.

Upon failure of any component dealing with combustion in modern vehicles, the on-board computers limit the power output, the official said.

“We have decided to grant it exemption and a notification will soon be issued,” the official added.