EV Policy 2.0: Delhi’s Quiet Revolution Against Pollution

🧭 Thematic Focus

Category: Environmental Governance | Sustainable Mobility | Public Policy
GS Paper: GS Paper II – Government Policies & Interventions | GS Paper III – Environment & Pollution
Tagline: When wheels whisper and lungs breathe, the city is reborn.

🌆 Intro

The Delhi Government’s upcoming EV Policy 2.0 sets the stage for an ambitious transition away from fossil fuel vehicles, especially CNG-driven autorickshaws and diesel-run carriers.
This initiative reflects Delhi’s growing urgency to combat severe air pollution and embrace electrified transport solutions across sectors.

🔍 Key Highlights

🚫 Phasing Out CNG Autorickshaws

• No new CNG autorickshaw registrations post August 15, 2025
• Permit renewals for existing CNG autos discontinued
• Mandatory conversion or replacement of all 10+ year-old CNG autos
• Electric permits will replace CNG ones moving forward

🗑️ Waste Management: EV-Only Vehicles

• Solid waste vehicles must shift to 100% electric by Dec 31, 2027
• Applies to municipal corporations and allied agencies
• Aims to curb diesel emissions in dense residential areas

🚌 Electric Buses in Public Transport

• DTC and DIMTS to procure only electric buses for intra-city routes
• Inter-state buses must comply with BS-VI emission standards
• Ensures emission-free commuting within Delhi

🛵 Two-Wheelers & Goods Carrier Rules

• Ban on petrol, diesel, and CNG two-wheelers:
  Effective August 15, 2026
• No fossil fuel three-wheeler goods carrier registrations post
  August 15, 2025
• Push for electric mobility in delivery and logistics sectors

🚘 Private Vehicle Ownership Guidelines

• Electric car purchase allowed only after owning two prior vehicles
• Designed to regulate vehicle ownership
• Balances private rights with environmental responsibility

📅 Timeline and Transition

• EV Policy 1.0 extended by 15 days after March 31 expiry
• EV Policy 2.0 to be notified post Delhi Cabinet approval
• Marks a final transition phase before citywide electrification measures kick in

🧠 Concept Explainer: Why This Matters

Urban air quality is not just about fuel—it is about life expectancy, equity, and trust in governance.
Delhi’s EV Policy 2.0 attempts a multi-sectoral shift that combines public service reform with long-term sustainability thinking.

🗺️ GS Paper Mapping

• GS Paper II – Government Policies, Urban Governance
• GS Paper III – Pollution, Sustainable Development, Transport Reforms
• Essay Themes – “Green Wheels, Clean Breath,” “Policy as an Engine of Change”

💭 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk

“In a city where noise once rode fuel,
let silence glide on wheels of light.”