India, April 13 -- Delhi continues to rank among the most polluted capitals on Earth, and vehicular emissions are a major culprit. The impact of vehicle pollution on public health is well documented. Citizens face increased risks of asthma and cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and reduced life expectancy. Vulnerable communities living near high-traffic corridors are disproportionately affected. Against this backdrop, the Delhi government's newly-released draft EV Policy 2026 does something previous policies didn't dare: It stops asking people to go electric and starts requiring it.

In August 2020, Delhi introduced its first EV policy. It was extended multiple times, ended in 2024, and will now be replaced by the new fr...