**Policy Summary: Low-Carbon Transport System Initiatives in India**
On August 7, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed the need for an integrated, efficient, and inclusive low-carbon transport system in India. The government has undertaken several initiatives to promote the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuels.
Key initiatives include:
* **Permit Exemption:** Notification S.O. 5333(E) (October 18, 2018) exempts battery-operated transport vehicles from permit requirements.
* **Fee Exemption:** Notification G.S.R. 525(E) (August 2, 2021) exempts battery-operated vehicles from registration and new registration mark fees.
* **All India Tourist Permit:** Notification G.S.R. 302(E) (April 18, 2023) grants All India Tourist Permits for battery-operated vehicles without permit fees.
* **Retrofitment:** Notification G.S.R. 167(E) (March 1, 2019) facilitates the retrofitment of hybrid electric systems or electric kits to vehicles.
* **Registration Mark:** Notification G.S.R. 749(E) (August 7, 2018) mandates yellow-on-green registration marks for battery-operated transport vehicles and white-on-green for other EVs.
* **Two-Wheeler EVs without Batteries:** An advisory issued on August 12, 2020, encourages states and UTs to allow the sale and registration of two-wheeled EVs without batteries.
* **BSVI Norms:** Notification G.S.R. 889(E) (September 16, 2016) implemented BSVI emission standards.
* **E20 Fuel:** Notification G.S.R 27(E) (January 5, 2024) notified E20 as a mono fuel for all vehicle categories.
* **Non-Fossil Fuels:** The government has notified mass emission standards for vehicles running on CNG, BioCNG, LNG, EV, Biofuels, blends of ethanol with gasoline, flex-fuel, Biodiesel, blends of Methanol with gasoline, dual fuel, and Hydrogen.
* **Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes:** The PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components (PLI Auto) and the PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cell Scheme incentivize EV manufacturing in India.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, national highways and transport research.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways at the time of the answer.
Electric Vehicles: Vehicles that use electric motors for propulsion, often powered by batteries.
BSVI norms: Bharat Stage VI emission standards, the current emission norms in India.
E20: A blend of 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline used as fuel.
CNG: Compressed Natural Gas, an alternative fuel.
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components: A government scheme to boost domestic manufacturing of automobiles and auto components.
India: The country to which the policy and initiatives apply.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. - 3101
ANSWERED ON 7th AUGUST, 2025
LOW-CARBON TRANSPORT SYSTEM
3101. SHRI ADITYA YADAV:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the need for an integrated,
efficient and inclusive low-carbon transport system in the country; and
(b) if so, the details of the steps that are proposed to be taken in this
regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) The Government has taken following initiatives to
promote adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for low-carbon transport
system 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 frompayment 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.
The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
has notified BS-VI norms vide G.S.R. 889(E) dated 16th September, 2016
by leapfrogging from BS-IV. The Government also notified E20 as a
Mono fuel vide G.S.R 27 (E), dated 5th January, 2024 for all category of
vehicles.
Further, to facilitate the development of Motor Vehicles running
on non-fossil fuels like CNG, Bio-CNG, LNG, EV, Biofuels, etc. the
Government has notified mass emission standards in respect of blends
of ethanol with gasoline, flex-fuel, Biodiesel, Bio-CNG, Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG), blends of Methanol with gasoline, dual fuel,
Hydrogen etc.
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile
and Auto Components (PLI Auto) and PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cell
Scheme incentivise the production of cells are helpful in promoting EV
manufacturing in India.
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