Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 19th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The 29th meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), held on August 18, 2026, approved mandates for cleaner Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and stricter dust controls for stone crushing units to mitigate PM2.5 emissions in Delhi-NCR. Key actions include phased restrictions on new LGV registrations starting January 2027 and extended deadlines for industrial emission standards to October 2026. The commission also reviewed R&D funding, plantation progress, and compliance penalties for thermal power plants.
Mandates phased restrictions on new Diesel, Petrol, and CNG N1 LGVs: starting January 1, 2027, in Delhi; July 1, 2027, in High Vehicle Density (HVD) districts; and January 1, 2028, in remaining NCR districts.
Phased restrictions for N2 LGVs are set to commence on January 1, 2028, July 1, 2028, and January 1, 2029.
Stone Crushing Unit Controls (Direction No. 103)
Incorporates CPCB’s 2023 environmental guidelines into Consent to Operate (CTO) conditions to control fugitive dust.
Requires technology-enabled monitoring, including video surveillance, PM2.5/PM10 sensors, and mandatory wheel-washing facilities.
Revised Resumption Procedures
Units under Closure Directions must submit corrective compliance evidence and a notarized affidavit to resume operations.
SPCBs/DPCC are tasked with concurrent verification and recovery of Environmental Compensation (EC).
Industrial and Energy Regulations
The deadline for industries across Delhi-NCR to implement revised particulate matter emission standards is extended to October 1, 2026.
Temporary use of alternate fuels is permitted until September 13, 2026, due to global energy supply disruptions.
Environmental Compensation of Rs. 61.85 crore was imposed on six Thermal Power Plants for failing to meet biomass co-firing targets.
Research and Greening Initiatives
Approved Rs. 3.25 crore for four R&D projects covering road dust exposure, mechanical sweeping, and crop residue forecasting.
Reported that 2.53 crore plantations have been completed toward a total target of 4.60 crore for 2026-27.
Impact Analysis
LGV Owners and ManufacturersImpact
New registrations for traditional fuel (Diesel/Petrol/CNG) LGVs will be prohibited according to a strict geographic and chronological timeline.
Action Required
Must transition to cleaner vehicle modes for all new registrations according to the specific deadlines between 2027 and 2029.
Stone Crushing UnitsImpact
Subject to stricter CTO conditions and mandatory investment in continuous remote monitoring technology.
Action Required
Install PM sensors, video surveillance, and wheel-washing systems; ensure compliance with CPCB’s 2023 Environmental Guidelines.
Industrial Units in NCRImpact
Granted an extension for emission standards but faces a deadline for the use of alternate fuels.
Action Required
Ensure implementation of revised particulate matter emission standards by October 1, 2026, and transition back from alternate fuels by September 13, 2026.
Thermal Power Plants (TPPs)Impact
Facing heavy financial penalties for non-compliance with biomass co-firing mandates.
Action Required
Pay outstanding Environmental Compensation and take immediate steps to meet biomass co-firing targets for the 2024-25 period.
SPCBs and DPCCImpact
Increased responsibility for verification, enforcement, and revenue recovery.
Action Required
Verify compliance for closed units, recover Environmental Compensation, and monitor plantation survival and industrial emission standards.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): The primary regulatory body responsible for issuing mandates and enforcing air quality directions in the Delhi-NCR region.
Direction No. 102: A regulatory mandate requiring a phased shift toward cleaner Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and restricting the registration of Diesel/Petrol/CNG LGVs in Delhi-NCR.
Direction No. 103: A policy strengthening dust control at Stone Crushing Units by incorporating CPCB's environmental guidelines and remote monitoring technologies into operations.
Delhi-NCR: The primary geographic region, including Delhi and districts like Gurugram and Faridabad, where these air quality regulations and vehicle restrictions apply.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): The overarching emergency policy framework for air pollution control in the region, mentioned in the context of Stage-I invocation and revocation.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM approves Phased Shift towards Cleaner
Light Goods Vehicles in Delhi-NCR; Strengthens
Dust Control at Stone Crushing Units
प्रव तथ: 19 AUG 2026 8:15PM by PIB Delhi
The 29th meeting of the Full Commission of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and
Adjoining Areas was held on 18.08.2026 under the Chairmanship of Shri Rajesh Verma. It approved
issuance of Direction No. 102 mandating new registration of cleaner modes of Light Goods Vehicles
(LGVs) in Delhi-NCR in a phased manner, in view of the significant contribution of the vehicular sector
to PM2.5 emissions in Delhi-NCR and the disproportionately high particulate emissions from LGVs.
LGVs constitute only about 1.2% of the active vehicle stock but contribute approximately 3.3% of PM
emissions from the total active fleet. Under Direction No. 102, phased restrictions on registration of
Diesel/ Petrol/ CNG N1 LGVs will commence from 01.01.2027 in Delhi and from 01.07.2027 in the High
Vehicle Density (HVD) Districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.
In the remaining Districts of NCR, registration of Diesel/ Petrol N1 LGVs will be restricted w.e.f.
01.01.2028. Phased restrictions on registration of N2 LGVs will commence from 01.01.2028, 01.07.2028
and 01.01.2029, respectively.
Direction No. 103, approved for prevention and control of air pollution from Stone Crushing Units in
NCR, seeks to strengthen control of fugitive dust emissions by incorporating the dust mitigation measures
prescribed under CPCB's Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing Units, 2023 into CTO conditions
of stone crushing units. Technology-enabled continuous remote monitoring, including video surveillance,
PM2.5/PM10 sensors and wheel washing, has also been provided for effective enforcement.
A revised procedure for permitting resumption of operations in cases where Closure Directions have been
issued by CAQM was also approved. The revised procedure provides for submission of corrective/
preventive compliance along with requisite evidence and a notarized affidavit. The SPCBs/DPCC shall
verify and recover applicable Environmental Compensation (EC) concurrently. CAQM may also
undertake independent/random verification through CPCB Flying Squads, with further closure action in
case of non-compliance.
Financial assistance was approved for four R&D projects recommended by the Project Evaluation and
Appraisal Committee (PEAC) under the Call for Proposals 2025-26. The projects cover road dust
exposure, mechanical road sweeping technologies, particulate matter profiling/source apportionment in
high-rise buildings, and forecasting of rice residue burning. The total approved financial assistance is Rs.
3,25,56,393/- for two years.
The relaxation under Direction No. 65 till 13.09.2026 was also noted. It permits temporary use of alternate
fuels in place of natural gas by industries, hotels, restaurants and other enterprises in NCR, including
Delhi, in view of the extraordinary global energy supply situation arising from the conflict in the Middle
East.The Commission also noted amendments issued through circulation to Direction No. 86 dated 02.01.2025
and Direction No. 98 dated 20.02.2026. The amendment to Direction No. 86 extends its implementation to
other Municipal Corporations and bigger cities/towns in NCR, while the amendment to Direction No. 98
extends the timeline to 01.10.2026 for implementation of revised particulate matter emission standards for
industries across Delhi-NCR.
It also noted the status of Environmental Compensation imposed on six Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) for
non-achievement of biomass co-firing targets during 2024-25. EC amounting to Rs. 61.85 crore was
imposed on the six non-compliant TPPs, of which 50% amounting to Rs. 30.92 crore had been received, in
compliance with interim orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
As on 10.08.2026, 1,816 violating units had been issued Closure Orders, of which 1,461 cases had been
considered for resumption following compliance, while 126 cases had been transferred to SPCBs/DPCCs
for further action. The Commission was apprised of the status of Enforcement Task Force (ETF) decisions,
inspections, closures and resumption of units since the previous Commission meeting.
During the period under review, Stage-I of GRAP was invoked on 19.05.2026 and revoked on 29.05.2026,
remaining in force for 11 days. The Commission was informed about the invocation and revocation of
GRAP since the last Commission meeting.
Progress of greening and plantation activities in Delhi-NCR against the targets fixed for 2026-27 was also
noted. Against an overall target of 4,60,54,740 plantations, including trees, shrubs and bamboo,
2,53,30,816 plantations had been achieved as on 04.08.2026. The Commission advised concerned
authorities to achieve the stipulated targets and ensure regular monitoring for plantation survival.
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