BS7 Emission Norms To Roll Out In Three Phases From April 2029

The government is set to roll out BS7 emission norms in three phases from April 2029. According to a Times of India report, the road transport ministry has approved the proposed timeline.

The new BS7 norms are aligned with Euro 7 and will be implemented over six years, until April 2035, which gives the industry and testing agencies time to prepare. Draft notifications for the three vehicle categories are expected over the next few days.

Image Source: PTI

BS7 Emission Norms - Rollout Timeline

New cars and SUVs manufactured from April 2029 come first. Small goods delivery vehicles and pick-up vans follow from 2030, with buses and heavy-duty vehicles coming under the norms from April 2031.

Norms for two-wheelers, the biggest contributor to pollution, will be notified later. Existing vehicles, including BS6-compliant ones, and their service life remain unaffected by the change. Euro 7, with which the BS7 framework is aligned, is also being introduced in phases. It starts in November 2026 for light-duty vehicles and May 2028 for heavy-duty vehicles.

BS7 Emission Norms - Particle Limits, Brake and Tyre Emissions

The new limits cover harmful pollutants including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter, at a time when pollution risks are rising across Indian cities. For cars and SUVs, the limits for most emission components stay the same as BS6.

The change is in particle size. The minimum size counted in particulate-number testing falls from 23 nanometres to 10 nanometres, and smaller particles penetrate deeper into the lungs. Trucks and heavy-duty vehicles see the bigger shift. The BS7 emission norms aim for 20 to 50 percent lower emissions across pollutants, with a tighter bar on on-road emissions.

The standards also reach past the tailpipe to regulate brake wear and tyre abrasion. Compliance will be checked under real-world driving conditions and across a vehicle's operational life, not just in laboratory tests. Under a new market surveillance system, independent testing agencies will carry out in-use compliance checks.

Automakers will need to upgrade engines and emissions-control systems. Unlike the BS6 transition in April 2020, no changes to refinery infrastructure are needed to produce compliant petrol and diesel, officials said.