**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Minister of Road Transport and Highways' response to questions regarding vehicular pollution in India, addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 742 on July 24, 2025. The response covers the contribution of road transport to CO2 emissions, the number of registered vehicles in major metropolitan cities, steps taken to control pollution and promote electric vehicles, and the role of vehicle loans. Key dates mentioned pertain to various notifications and reports related to emission standards, alternative fuels, and vehicle policies.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Vehicular Contribution to Pollution:**
* Road transport accounted for approximately 12% of national CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2021.
* **Vehicle Registration and Pollution Index in Metropolitan Cities:**
* Total registered vehicles (commercial and private) in:
* Delhi: 1,54,87,341
* Mumbai: 56,26,385
* Kolkata: 37,32,289
* Chennai: 57,05,899
* (Note: The document does not specify the pollution index in these cities.)
* **Government Measures to Control Vehicular Pollution:**
* Notified Bharat Stage BS-VI Emission limits (G.S.R 889 dated 16.09.2016).
* Notified E20 as a Mono fuel (G.S.R 27 E, dated 5th January, 2024).
* Notified Hydrogen as a fuel (GSR 885E dated 16th December 2022) for ICE BSIV vehicles.
* Implemented Vehicle Scrapping Policy (G.S.R 720 dated 5th October 2021).
* Mandated FASTag for M and N category vehicles (G.S.R 1361 dated 2nd November 2017).
* **Initiatives to Promote Electric Vehicles (EVs):**
* Exempted battery-operated transport vehicles from permit requirements (S.O. 5333E dated 18th October, 2018).
* Exempted Battery Operated Vehicles from registration fees (G.S.R. 525E dated 2nd August, 2021).
* Granted All India Tourist Permit for battery-operated vehicles without permit fees (G.S.R. 302E dated 18th April, 2023).
* Facilitated retrofitment of hybrid electric systems or electric kits to vehicles (G.S.R. 167E dated 1st March, 2019).
* Enabled distinct registration mark colors for Battery Operated Vehicles (G.S.R. 749E dated 7th August 2018).
* Issued advisory regarding sale/registration of two-wheeled EVs without batteries (dated 12th August 2020).
* **Vehicle Loans:**
* Banks make credit decisions based on their board-approved policies and RBI guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Vehicle Owners:**
* *Impact:* Subject to stricter emission standards, scrapping policies for older vehicles, and potential incentives for electric vehicle adoption.
* *Action Required:* Comply with BS-VI emission standards, consider scrapping older vehicles, and explore options for electric vehicle purchase or retrofitting.
* **Vehicle Manufacturers:**
* *Impact:* Need to manufacture vehicles compliant with BS-VI emission standards and adapt to the growing demand for electric vehicles.
* *Action Required:* Invest in technology for cleaner emission vehicles and electric vehicle production.
* **Banks and Financial Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Continue to make lending decisions based on established policies and regulatory guidelines.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to RBI guidelines and internal policies when providing vehicle loans.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Benefit from reduced air pollution through the adoption of cleaner vehicles and policies aimed at reducing emissions.
* *Action Required:* Support government initiatives for cleaner transportation and consider adopting more sustainable transportation options.
* **State Transport Departments/UTs:**
* *Impact:* Required to implement and enforce the new regulations and policies related to vehicle emissions and electric vehicle adoption.
* *Action Required:* Enforce emission standards, facilitate EV adoption, and implement the vehicle scrapping policy.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian governmental body responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, transport research and roads in India.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India.
Delhi: A metropolitan city and union territory of India.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: A metropolitan city in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Kolkata, West Bengal: A metropolitan city in the state of West Bengal, India.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: A metropolitan city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Bharat Stage VI Emission norms: Emission standards set by the Indian government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
Vehicle Scrapping Policy: A policy by the Indian government to phase out older, unfit polluting vehicles.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 742
ANSWERED ON 24th JULY, 2025
CONTROLLING VEHICULAR POLLUTION
742. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the contribution of vehicles to pollution in the country;
(b) the number of vehicles, commercial and private, in the four
metropolitan cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and the
pollution index in these cities;
(c) whether there is any need to reduce the number of vehicles to
control pollution and if so, whether the Government has taken any
decisions to discourage the purchase of vehicles and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) whether easy and cheap vehicle loans provided by banks are
contributing to the increased ownership of vehicles in families and
if so, the details of the steps taken to discourage this trend?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Road transport accounted for about 12% of national CO
2
emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2021. [Source: IEA & NITIAayog Report-Transitioning India’s Road Transport Sector;
Published: July: 2023]
(b) The number of registered vehicles in four metropolitan cities are
as under:
Name of the Number of Number of Total
metropolitan City registered registered number of
commercial private vehicles vehicles
vehicles
Delhi 1243153 14244188 15487341
Mumbai 709378 4917007 5626385
Kolkata 484668 3247621 3732289
Chennai 528430 5177469 5705899
Total 2965629 27586285 30551914
(c) 1. The Government has taken several steps to control and
minimize air pollution caused by vehicles in the country which inter-
alia include:
(i) Notified Bharat Stage (BS) VI Emission limits including use of
alternative fuels vide G.S.R 889 dated 16.09.2016 to reduce
pollutants from motor vehicles.
(ii) Notified E20 as a Mono fuel vide G.S.R 27 (E), dated 5th
January, 2024 for all category of vehicles.
(iii) Notified Hydrogen as a fuel vide GSR 885(E) dated 16th
December 2022 for ICE BS-IV vehicles.
(iv) Notified the Vehicle Scrapping Policy vide G.S.R 720 dated
5th October 2021 to phase out older, unfit polluting vehicles
under the framework of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Central
Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
(v) Mandated the fitment of FASTAG to all M and N category
vehicles vide G.S.R 1361 dated 2nd November 2017 to reduce
idling time at toll plazas, cutting fuel consumption and
emissions.
2. Government has taken following initiatives to promote adoption
of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the country:(i) Notification issued vide S.O. 5333(E) dated the 18th October,
2018 to grant exemption from the requirements of the permit to
the battery operated transport vehicles.
(ii) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 525(E) dated the 2nd August,
2021 to grant exemption of Battery Operated Vehicles from
payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of
registration certificate and assignment of new registration
mark.
(iii) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 302(E) dated the 18th April,
2023 to grant All India Tourist Permit for battery-operated
vehicles without payment of permit fee.
(iv) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 167(E) dated the 1st March,
2019 to facilitate retro-fitment of hybrid electric system or
electric kit to vehicles.
(v) Notification issued vide G.S.R. 749(E) dated the 7th August
2018 enabling registration mark of Battery Operated Vehicles in
Yellow colour on Green background for the transport vehicles
and for all other cases, in White colour on Green background.
(vi) Further, an advisory dated 12th August 2020 has been
issued to all States and UTs regarding sale and registration of
two-wheeled Electric Vehicles without batteries.
(d) Banks take credit decisions as per their Board approved policies
subject to overarching regulatory guidelines, including the
instruction contained in RBI’s master circular on “Loans and
Advances- Statutory and other Restrictions”, and to meet legitimate
credit needs of the customers.
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