The Minister of Road Transport announced the approval of new AIS 228 standards concerning the installation of emission control devices on the rear of older commercial vehicles that do not comply with the BS6 standard. This technology is capable of reducing particulate matter emissions by 90 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 60 percent.
According to Gadkari, this device, developed by a team led by IIT Delhi, costs around 4000–5000 rupees and has demonstrated that the emissions of a modernized vehicle (BS4) are comparable to those of a BS6 standard vehicle.
Simultaneously, Gadkari urged automakers to actively support the government's program for purchasing old vehicles by offering discounts to customers who trade in old cars and purchase new ones. He emphasized that the industry should view buyback as a commercial opportunity to stimulate sales and production, rather than merely a government recommendation.
Under the 'Parivart' program for the Delhi-NCR region, launched in July, it is planned to buy back over 200 thousand old trucks and buses, providing incentives for the purchase of new BS6 standard vehicles and electric vehicles. Gadkari asked original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide additional benefits when presenting buyback certificates, which will help accelerate fleet renewal and create demand for new vehicles.
This dual approach—modernizing old vehicles and accelerating their replacement through buyback—is being implemented within the context of the government's efforts to combat vehicular emissions in the NCR and support the modernization of commercial transport.
Furthermore, Gadkari noted the significant success of the Bharat NCAP program, under which more than 30 models from 11 companies have already been certified. He added that this initiative has substantially reduced the cost of vehicle safety testing: testing under Bharat NCAP costs approximately 60 lakh rupees per model compared to 2.5 crore rupees under Global NCAP.
The reduction in costs has even prompted foreign automakers to send their vehicles to India for testing. Gadkari also stated that the program helps enhance the trust and quality of Indian vehicles in global markets.
To further this work, Gadkari announced that the government intends to introduce Bharat NCAP 2 starting October 2027. The expanded assessment mode will cover not only collision safety but also the entire safety chain, including collision avoidance, passenger protection, pedestrian protection, as well as post-accident evacuation and assistance. He also mentioned that the government will evaluate new global technologies and innovations developed by Indian startups under the expanded safety mode, inviting the automotive industry to share proposals and technologies for inclusion in the program.
