All you need to know a...

Emission from vehicles is one of the major contributors of air pollution. A cleaner engine would carry a generally slower combustion process. With the introduction of the BS6 norms in India, there will be a requirement for upgrading the engines with new innovations to meet the BS6 emission standards. The implementation of these norms in India will likewise bring the standards of pollution control at par with the US and the European nations.

Bharat stage 6 or BS6 emission standards are emission guidelines or norms that are introduced by the Government of India and the entire automobile industry in India will shift to stricter emission norms of BS6 by 1^st April, 2020 for all the vehicles. This norm is applied to both petrol as well as the diesel engines.

 The aim behind introduction of BS6 is to control air pollutants that are discharged by the vehicles as a result of combustion engines and Spark-ignition engines. These benchmarks are set by the Central Pollution Control Board which is under the Ministry of Environment and Climate change.

The discharge of NOx, particulate matter and NMHC (Non-methane Hydrocarbons) emanations are negatively affecting the health of the citizens in the nation. It is said that with the introduction of BS6 norms in India, the pollution levels in the country will be considerably reduced because the vehicle would emit less amount of toxic gases. The BS6 fuel would contain 5 times fewer sulphur traces i.e.10 parts per million compared 50 parts per million of BS4 fuel. Less sulphur content naturally implies greener and cleaner fuel quality as it decreases the emission of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. The BS6 cars would thus helping in creating a cleaner and greener environment.

The Supreme Court has decided that BS4 vehicles won't be sold after March, 2020 when the BS6 norms are set up i.e. you won’t have the option to register BS4 cars from 1^st April 2020 onwards and only BS6 cars will be registered. BS4 vehicles which are purchased up to March 2020 will stay operational for their entire duration of registration. So, in case if you own a BS4 compliant vehicle, then you need not stress over selling it quickly and purchase a BS6 compliant vehicle. You can happily use it till the end of the registration period.

The Supreme Court had even given an ultimatum to the car manufacturers to clear off their old stock of BS4 vehicles before 1^st April, 2020. Only the sale of BS4 vehicles is going to be ceased after 1^st April, 2020, but the vehicle will continue to utilize and be legal on the streets much after the BS6 rollout. The court has also clarified that there would be no extension of deadline and the BS4 cars should be sold within the stipulated period.

BACKDROP

Bharat stage norms are based on European emission standards. It was initially rolled out in the year 2000.  Later BS2 & BS3 were introduced in the years 2001 and 2005 respectively. BS4 was implemented in the year 2017. The India government in 2016 had declared that it has chosen to take the jump from BS4 to BS6 for few reasons, and the key reasons among them are: the poor air quality in the urban communities and also to reduce NOx emissions by 25% in the petrol cars and 68% for the diesel cars.

In October 2016, India had signed the Conference of Protocol (CoP) and it is also called as the Paris Climate Agreement. According to this agreement, in the next 12 years, India will cut down its carbon impression by 33-55% as compared to 2005 levels.