A draft notification has been released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) that proposes substantial changes to the renewal system of the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC). These changes are intended to weaken emission monitoring for older vehicles and to lower compliance requirements for cleaner vehicles. The present PUCC validity is one year; the plan would increase it to three years for BS-VI private vehicles up to six years old. Similarly, BS-VI commercial vehicles that fall into the same age bracket will be recognised for their enhanced environmental performance and reduced emission levels, making them eligible for a two-year PUCC validity.
An age-and emission standard-based graded renewal structure is proposed in the draft notification. Vehicles manufactured by BS-VI between 2006 and 2010 must have their PUCC renewed every year, whereas those manufactured after 2010 are needed to undergo emission testing every six months. By keeping older vehicles below the allowed emission levels for their entire operational life, this method aims to strike a balance between regulatory compliance and environmental conservation.
Vehicles running on the outdated Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards will also face stricter compliance requirements under the new regulations. Instead of once a year, BS-IV vehicles will now need to renew their PUCC every six months. The proposed regulations are much more stringent for vehicles classified as BS-I, BS-II, and BS-III. These vehicles will be need to renew their Pollution Under Control Certificates every three months because their tailpipe emissions are considerably higher. The ministry is of the opinion that more regular inspections will lead to cleaner air in metropolitan areas by reducing emissions of pollutants such particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO).
Vehicle pollution restrictions are defined by the Bharat Stage (BS) standards, which are in line with European emission rules. India skipped BS-V in favour of the more rigorous BS-VI standards, which went into effect on April 1, 2020, therefore expediting pollution management, while BS-IV regulations were in place from 2017 to 2020. Cleaner combustion, reduced emissions, and enhanced vehicle performance are all possible with BS-VI fuels because their maximum sulphur level is 10 ppm, as opposed to 50 ppm with BS-IV. Newer, more eco-friendly car owners should find it easier to comply with the rules thanks to the planned PUCC amendments, which would also help India’s larger attempts to improve air quality.
The government’s plan to promote cleaner vehicle technology while requiring stronger surveillance on older, more polluting vehicles is mirrored in the planned PUCC validity changes. The new regulations, if announced, will improve India’s system for controlling emissions from vehicles and make compliance easier for owners of BS-VI vehicles.
Image: BS
