India To Unveil Draft BS-VII Emission Norms By Early 2025, Aims For Stricter Pollution Control

The government is set to unveil the draft of Bharat Stage (BS) VII emission norms by early 2025, according to Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Speaking at the ET Infra Leadership Summit 2024, Ahmed confirmed that the draft would be released after consulting academia and relevant industry players.

"With the academia, with the various concerned players in this segment and by early 2025, we will come out with the draft BS-VII emission norms," he said.

The BS-VI vehicle standards, introduced in April 2020, aimed to reduce vehicular pollution, particularly Nitrogen Oxides and particulate matter. The upcoming BS-VII norms are expected to be even more stringent, requiring manufacturers to equip vehicles with advanced emission control systems.

Ahmed acknowledged the role of vehicle emissions in contributing to air pollution, stating, "...in case of road transport sector, yes, vehicle emission does play a role in the pollution that we see around us, in the general air quality, that is not as it should be. So we are trying to do our bit by coming out with pollution norms."

He also emphasised the government's focus on improving fuel efficiency and reducing fuel consumption limits.

"We are also working in close association with the other ministries and other concerned expert agencies in the field of, let's say, bringing about more fuel efficiency, in bringing down the fuel consumption limits so that the vehicles become more and more efficient," he added.

The BS-VII norms are expected to align with Euro-VII emission standards, which will include requirements for on-board monitoring of pollution data and the inclusion of non-exhaust particulates, such as those produced by tyres.