Draft BS-VII Vehicle Emission Norms: Brakes, Tyres, Batteries and Real-Road Tests
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) published draft rules for Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII), India's next set of vehicle pollution limits. The drafts came out in October 2026 and are open for public comments for 30 days. They can still change before they become final.
The rules come in phases by vehicle type: passenger cars from 1 April 2029, light commercial vehicles (small goods carriers) from April 2030, and buses and heavy trucks from April 2031.
For cars, the main exhaust limits stay the same as BS-VI. For example, a petrol car may emit up to 1,000 mg of carbon monoxide (CO) and 60 mg of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per km. A diesel car may emit 500 mg CO and 80 mg NOx per km. Both may emit 4.5 mg of particulate matter (PM) per km.
The big changes are in what is measured: particles as small as 10 nanometres will now be counted (down from 23 nanometres), cars will be tested on real roads with portable equipment from April 2030, and an on-board monitoring system must detect when emissions go 2.5 times or more above the limit.
For the first time, pollution from brakes and tyres is covered. Cars face brake-dust limits of 3 mg/km for pure electric cars and 7 mg/km for other types from April 2031, and 3 mg/km for all cars from April 2035. Tyre-wear limits will be notified separately.
Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle batteries must keep at least 75% of their energy capacity after 5 years or 1,00,000 km, and 67% after 8 years or 1,60,000 km. Each vehicle will also carry an Environmental Vehicle Passport showing its fuel use, battery health and emissions.
Vehicle makers have reportedly sought a later start, citing the technology changes needed and short preparation time.
Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Norms
Bharat Stage (BS) norms are India's rules on how much pollution a new vehicle may release. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) sets limits for gases like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and for tiny soot particles. A new model must pass these limits before it can be sold. Each new stage is stricter than the one before, and India's stages broadly follow Europe's "Euro" standards.
The draft BS-VII rules are the next step on the BS ladder. Instead of making exhaust limits tighter, they change how and for how long a vehicle is checked: real-road tests, smaller particles, on-board monitoring and lifetime durability.
Particulate Matter: PM2.5 and PM10
Particulate matter (PM) means tiny bits of solid or liquid floating in the air, such as dust, soot and smoke. PM10 means particles 10 micrometres or smaller, and PM2.5 means particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller. The smaller the particle, the deeper it goes into our lungs and even into the blood. Vehicles release PM not only from the exhaust pipe but also from brakes, tyres and road dust.
The draft BS-VII rules are India's first attempt to control non-exhaust particles from brakes and tyres. As exhaust pipes get cleaner, these particles make up a bigger share of traffic pollution, so the rules now treat them as part of a vehicle's pollution.
Euro 7 Emission Standards: The European Union's Next Vehicle Pollution Rules
Euro 7 is the European Union's (EU's) newest law on how much pollution road vehicles may release. It covers cars, vans, buses and trucks in one single law. It is the first standard in the world to put limits on particles from brakes and to cover tyre wear, and it is the first to set rules on how long the batteries of electric cars must last. India's draft BS-VII norms closely follow its design.
India's draft BS-VII norms borrow the main ideas of Euro 7: brake and tyre limits, PN10, battery durability, on-board monitoring and an Environmental Vehicle Passport. India's car brake limits match Euro 7 exactly, while its battery figures match the lower Euro 7 values for vans.
- BS-VII draft published: October 2026, by MoRTH; 30 days for public comments
- Start dates: cars 1 April 2029; light commercial vehicles April 2030; buses and trucks April 2031
- Petrol car limits: CO 1,000 mg/km, NOx 60 mg/km; diesel car: CO 500 mg/km, NOx 80 mg/km; PM 4.5 mg/km for both
- Particle-number threshold lowered from 23 nm to 10 nm
- On-road testing with portable equipment part of type approval from April 2030
- On-board monitoring must detect emissions 2.5 times or more above the limit; data via diagnostic port for vehicles made from 1 April 2032
- Car brake-particle limits: 3 mg/km (pure electric) and 7 mg/km (others) from April 2031; 3 mg/km for all from April 2035
- Battery: at least 75% capacity after 5 years or 1,00,000 km; 67% after 8 years or 1,60,000 km
- Car durability: 1,60,000 km or 8 years, plus extra period to 2,00,000 km or 10 years
- Heavy vehicles: longest durability period 8,75,000 km or 15 years; tyre-abrasion rules from April 2035
- India moved to BS-VI nationwide in April 2020, skipping BS-V