Delhi has banned petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel cars older than 10 years. By the end of 2022, the city had already removed over 6.2 million vehicles from legal road use as part of this push. The goal is simple: get the dirtiest, oldest cars off the road to improve air quality.

These rules apply not just to Delhi but to nearby cities in the National Capital Region, including Gurugram. There's also an emergency system called GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) that kicks in when air pollution gets very bad. When that happens, even newer cars can face bans if they don't meet current emission standards. In November 2024, this emergency system was activated again, showing it's still being used regularly.

Understanding Vehicle Emissions Standards

India categorizes vehicle pollution using a system called BS (Bharat Stage) standards. Older vehicles have lower standards — like BS III or BS IV — and produce more pollution. Newer vehicles must meet BS VI, which is much stricter and allows far less pollution. When Delhi bans BS IV diesel cars, it's targeting vehicles that are legal by age but still pollute a lot more than today's standard.

Different rules work together here. Some rules permanently remove old cars based on age. Other rules (like GRAP) temporarily ban polluting cars when the air quality drops sharply. Between the two systems, older cars face pressure to leave the roads.

Making Electric Cars More Affordable

The government offers subsidies to help people buy electric cars instead of petrol or diesel ones. The national program is called FAME, and Delhi adds extra subsidies on top. The idea is straightforward: make it easier to afford an electric car so people will switch away from old, polluting vehicles.

Here's the problem: many car owners can't afford an electric car even with the subsidy. When their old car is banned, they lose their vehicle and don't have a replacement. This is hardest for people in areas outside central Delhi, where buses and trains don't run as often and there aren't many charging stations for electric cars.

The Gap Between Rules and Reality

The number of cars removed from the road looks impressive. But that doesn't tell us whether the rules are actually being enforced everywhere. Checking whether banned cars are on the road depends on cameras and police checks — both of which work inconsistently across the region. Different areas enforce the rules differently.

Air quality in Delhi has improved a bit, but it's still worse than the World Health Organization recommends. The rules are in place. The real challenge is making sure the rules actually work on the ground.