India proposes BS-VII rules for cars from April 2029

India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) emission rules for new passenger cars from April 1, 2029, as the first stage of a phased transition running through April 2035. The proposal is set out in a draft notification dated October 12, which invites public comments for 30 days before the rules are finalized. The draft applies initially to M1 vehicles, primarily passenger cars, and sets out further stages beginning in April 2031 and April 2035. It would tighten exhaust-emission limits and require testing under real-world driving conditions, alongside checks on vehicles already in service. The proposed requirements would not apply to existing vehicles, according to the notification as reported. The draft also extends regulation beyond exhaust emissions. It proposes limits on particles from brake wear and requirements addressing tyre abrasion, with some component limits to be notified separately. For brake particles, the proposal sets a limit of 3 milligrams per kilometre for pure electric vehicles and 7 milligrams per kilometre for specified hybrids, fuel-cell and internal-combustion vehicles from April 2031.