Reversal on ELV Fuel Ban | 14 Jul 2025

Source: TH 

The Delhi government has rolled back its fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs)-Petrol cars over 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years as directed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). 

• CAQM is a statutory body for ensuring coordinated action, scientific research, and effective resolution of air pollution issues in the Delhi NCR and adjoining areas.

Legal Mandate for Fuel Ban on ELVs: 

• NGT Orders (2015): NGT banned diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years in Delhi-NCR and  barred their re-registration. 
• Supreme Court (SC) Ruling (2018): SC in MC Mehta vs Union Of India, 2018 case upheld NGT orders and permitted impounding of non-compliant vehicles. 
• Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, private vehicle registration is valid for 15 years, after which renewal is required. 
• Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Expired registration makes a vehicle legally unfit for road use. 
• Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025: Mandates scrapping of vehicles within 180 days of registration expiry. 

State of Air pollution in India: 

• Air pollution poses a severe public health challenge in India, contributing to approximately 1.67 million deaths each year, according to the WHO, and is responsible for 17% of all deaths nationwide, as reported by the State of Global Air 2023. 
• The 2024 World Air Quality Report (IQAir) ranks India as the 5th most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 level of 50.6 µg/m³, ten times above the WHO safe limit. Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital.