Bharat Emission Standards

Why BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers have been banned in Delhi

Explained | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Mains level: Vehicular Pollution;

Why in the News?

To tackle Delhi’s severe pollution and smog, the Delhi government started implementing GRAP Stage III on November 15, which bans BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help improve air quality.

What are Bharat Stage Emission Standards?

  •  Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards are regulations established by the Indian government to control the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines in vehicles.
  •  The first standards were introduced in 1991, with subsequent updates leading to the current BS-VI standard, which came into effect on April 1, 2020. India has progressively aligned its standards with European norms, skipping BS-V altogether due to increasing pollution levels.

What is the difference between BS-IV and BS-VI norms?

    • Sulphur Content: BS-VI fuel has a significantly lower sulphur content (10 ppm) compared to BS-IV fuel (50 ppm), resulting in reduced harmful emissions.
  • Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emissions:
    • Diesel Vehicles: NOx emissions are limited to 80 mg/km under BS-VI, down from 250 mg/km under BS-IV.
    • Petrol Vehicles: NOx emissions are reduced from 80 mg/km in BS-IV to 60 mg/km in BS-VI.
  • Particulate Matter (PM): The permissible PM emissions for diesel vehicles have been reduced from 25 mg/km under BS-IV to 4.5 mg/km under BS-VI. Petrol vehicles are also subject to a new limit of 4.5 mg/km for PM.
  • Emission Control Technologies: BS-VI introduces advanced technologies such as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), which were not part of the BS-IV standards. Additionally, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing is implemented to monitor emissions during actual driving conditions.

Why have BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers been banned in Delhi-NCR?

  • Higher Emission Levels: BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles emit significantly higher levels of pollutants like NOx, PM 2.5, and sulphur oxides compared to BS-VI vehicles. These emissions worsen Delhi-NCR’s already poor air quality, especially during high pollution periods.
  • Combatting Severe Smog and Pollution: Delhi-NCR experiences severe air quality degradation during winter due to factors like temperature inversion and low wind speeds. Banning older vehicles helps reduce pollution sources and alleviates smog conditions.
  • Alignment with GRAP Stage III: The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III mandates stricter pollution control measures during critical air quality levels, including banning more polluting vehicle categories, to protect public health and comply with environmental standards.

Note:  The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III has been implemented in Delhi-NCR due to severe air pollution levels, specifically when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 400.

What did the emission inventory say about Delhi NCR?

  • Current Challenges: The Delhi NCR region faces severe air quality issues, exacerbated by vehicular emissions, construction dust, and seasonal factors like stubble burning. The emission inventory indicates these pollutants contribute significantly to the city’s chronic smog problem.
  • Government Response: In response to high pollution levels, the Delhi government has implemented measures such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes bans on certain vehicle categories based on their emission standards.

Way forward: 

  • Accelerate Transition to Cleaner Vehicles: Promote the adoption of electric and BS-VI vehicles through subsidies, scrappage policies, and robust charging infrastructure to phase out older, polluting vehicles effectively.
  • Strengthen Air Quality Measures: Enhance monitoring of industrial and vehicular emissions, enforce GRAP actions stringently, and increase public awareness to reduce pollution sources and improve compliance.

Mains PYQ:

Q What are the key features of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (UPSC IAS/2020)

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

💥Mentorship New Batch Launch
Click Here
💥Mentorship New Batch Launch
Click