India’s next vehicle emission standards would look beyond the smoke coming out of a vehicle’s exhaust. The proposed Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) rules would also address pollution from brakes and tyres, check how well electric-vehicle batteries hold up over time, and require manufacturers to test vehicles under more realistic driving conditions.
The proposal also seeks to address particles released by brakes and tyres, rather than just vehicle exhausts. Brakes release particles as their surfaces wear down, while tyres shed material as they rub against the road.
Exhaust limits, on-road testing and onboard monitoring are proposed from April 2031. From April 2033, the draft proposes additional monitoring and brake-particle requirements. Tyre-abrasion requirements are proposed from April 2035. Batteries would have to retain at least 75% of their original energy capacity after five years or 1,00,000 km, and at least 67% after eight years or 1,60,000 km, whichever comes first at each stage.
The draft sets emission limits and testing requirements but does not prescribe a particular engine design. The changes manufacturers may need to make to meet the proposed standards will depend on the vehicle and its existing technology. The rules also go beyond engines. Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids would have to meet proposed battery-performance benchmarks, while manufacturers would need to demonstrate compliance with the proposed brake and tyre-particle requirements. The heavy-vehicle rules would come in stages. The numerical limits for brake particles, tyre wear and battery performance are to be notified separately. The draft sets battery-energy performance benchmarks for applicable electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. However, the detailed minimum-performance requirements and test procedures for battery durability are to be notified separately.
The standards could change before they are finalised. Cars would also face a limit on fuel vapour escaping from the fuel system. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed bringing in the standards gradually, starting with passenger cars from April 1, 2029, light commercial vehicles from April 2030, and buses and heavy trucks from April 2031. The draft notifications were published in October 2026. They invite public comments for 30 days from the date copies of the notifications are made available to the public. An on-board monitoring system would have to detect specified emissions exceedances, including levels at least 2.5 times the relevant limit. The draft says the monitoring data must be available through the vehicle’s diagnostic port for vehicles manufactured from April 1, 2032.
The proposal also includes an Environmental Vehicle Passport, which would give vehicle users access to up-to-date information on fuel consumption, traction-battery health and pollutant emissions, including data generated by onboard systems and monitors. The draft also requires the passport to be displayed inside the vehicle.
