Government to directly shift to BS-VI norms by April 2020

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to jump from BS-IV to BS-VI emission norms directly. The Indian government will skip BS-V emission norms altogether and the new norms will be in place by April 1, 2020.

Earlier, the Auto Fuel Policy had recommended implementation of BS-VI norms by 2024. However, a unanimous decision was taken in a meeting yesterday and thus the change in the implementation of norms. Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping), Anant Geete (Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises), Prakash Javadekar (Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) and Dharmendra Pradhan (Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas) were present at this meeting. The decision of directly shifting to BS-VI norms from the current BS-IV norms was taken in the presence of senior officials of the ministries.

Subsequently, the earlier draft of switching over to BS-VI after BS-V has been withdrawn by the ministry and a notification in this regard will soon be issued. Despite the change in dates of implementation of BS-VI norms from 2024 to April 1, 2021 to now April 1, 2020; the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has assured supply of BS-VI fuel across the country by the new date. The Ministry expects the Indian Automobile industry, with its technical competence and commitment to environment, to rise to the occasion and support the decision.