The Centre is contemplating easing the renewal norms for Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) for Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) vehicles to reduce compliance burdens on owners of newer, cleaner vehicles. A proposal suggests extending the validity of PUCC for new BS-VI private vehicles from one year to three years. This change would mean owners of BS-VI private cars only need to renew their pollution certificates twice in the first six years of the vehicle’s life.
Under the proposed framework, BS-VI private vehicles up to six years old would have a three-year PUCC validity period. Vehicles aged between six and 10 years would require annual renewals, while cars older than 10 years would need to renew their certificates every six months. Additionally, the government is considering separate norms for commercial BS-VI vehicles.
For commercial vehicles up to six years old, the PUCC validity could be extended to two years. Beyond six years of age, the same renewal schedule applicable to private vehicles would be in place. The proposal is based on the significantly lower emissions of BS-VI vehicles compared to older models, with BS-VI-compliant vehicles emitting up to 82% less particulate matter (PM) and around 25% less nitrogen oxides (NOx) than BS-IV vehicles.
Officials stated that the proposed changes aim to discourage the use of older, more polluting vehicles while acknowledging the impact of vehicular emissions on air quality. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to enhance the PUCC testing process to ensure accuracy and prevent emission readings manipulation. The proposal has garnered support from experts, with some highlighting the lower emissions from new BS-VI vehicles as justification for longer certificate validity periods.
However, some experts have advised caution. Former deputy transport commissioner Anil Chhikara emphasized the importance of considering vehicle maintenance standards, noting that even relatively new cars could produce higher emissions if not properly maintained.
