Legislation

Emission Standards for Vehicles and Machinery in India

BS-VI for Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles

India adopted the Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms nationwide in April 2020, leapfrogging directly from BS-IV to BS-VI to address growing air pollution concerns. BS-VI significantly reduces permissible levels of pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and hydrocarbons, especially from diesel engines.

To meet BS-VI standards, automobile manufacturers have implemented advanced emission control technologies, including:

• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems, which inject AdBlue® (a urea-based solution) into the exhaust to convert NOx into nitrogen and water.
• Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) to trap fine soot particles.
• Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems to reduce combustion temperatures and NOx formation.

BS-VI for Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles

BS-VI norms for trucks and buses also came into effect in April 2020, enforcing stringent limits on NOx, PM, and hydrocarbon emissions. As a result:

• Most heavy-duty diesel vehicles now come equipped with SCR systems.
• The use of AdBlue® has become essential for NOx reduction.
• DPFs are commonly integrated to manage particulate emissions.

Emission Standards for Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM)

Diesel-powered non-road mobile machinery such as construction equipment, generators, and industrial for lifts are governed under separate Indian emission regulations. India has adopted and aligned its NRMM standards progressively with international best practices, mandating:

• Lower NOx and PM limits for diesel engines.
• Use of SCR and DPF technologies for compliance.
• A growing demand for AdBlue® and related after-treatment systems.

Emission Norms for Agricultural Machinery

Emission regulations for agricultural tractors and equipment in India are being progressively upgraded. While India currently follows Trem (Tractor Emission Norms) stages, future updates are expected to align more closely with the EU Stage V standards, which mandate:

• Use of SCR, DPF, and EGR systems.
• Lower emission thresholds for NOx and PM.
• Enhanced monitoring and testing of real-world emissions.