Draft rules seek to ease compliance burden while retaining stricter emission checks for older vehicles
| Photo Credit:
plherrera
New Delhi, July 27The Centre has proposed extending the validity of pollution under control (PUC) certificates for Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) non-transport vehicles to three years during the first six years from the date of registration.Accordingly, the move assumes significance as it seeks to reduce the compliance burden for owners of newer, cleaner vehicles while prescribing more frequent emission checks for older vehicles as part of a broader overhaul of the country’s vehicle emission testing framework.If implemented, the proposal will replace the existing one-year validity period for such vehicles.According to draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the revised framework prescribes different PUC validity periods based on a vehicle’s emission standard and age, reducing compliance requirements for newer BS-VI vehicles while retaining more frequent emission checks for older vehicles.Under the proposed rules, BS-VI non-transport vehicles that are more than six years old but not older than 10 years will require annual PUC certification, while those older than 10 years will have to undergo emission testing every six months.For BS-VI transport vehicles, the ministry has proposed a PUC validity of two years for vehicles up to six years old, one year for vehicles between six and 10 years old, and six months for vehicles older than 10 years.However, the draft rules retain the existing validity period of three months for BS-I, BS-II and BS-III vehicles and six months for BS-IV vehicles.The notification also provides for a transition mechanism for existing PUC certificates.As per the draft, certificates issued before the amended rules come into force will remain valid until their first renewal, after which the revised validity periods will apply.Besides, if a vehicle owner renews the PUC certificate within 10 days preceding its expiry, the renewed certificate will take effect from the date of expiry of the existing certificate, ensuring that no validity period is lost.Furthermore, where the renewal is carried out after the certificate has expired, the renewed certificate will become effective only from the date of renewal.The ministry issued the amendments in draft form last week and has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days before notifying the final rules.Published on July 27, 2026
