India, July 2 -- In a major push towards tackling air pollution and accelerating the transition to clean mobility, the Delhi government on Wednesday formally notified the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, 2026, unveiling an ambitious roadmap that combines financial incentives, mandatory electrification targets, charging infrastructure, battery recycling and digital governance to transform the Capital's transport ecosystem by 2030. The policy, which came into effect on July 1, 2026, will remain in force till March 31, 2030. It follows Cabinet approval on June 29 and seeks to significantly increase electric vehicle adoption while reducing dependence on conventional fuel-powered vehicles. Also Read - Delhi court reserves verdict in wrestlers' sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan Announcing the policy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, "The policy aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across Delhi, improve air quality, reduce dependence on conventional fuels, significantly expand charging and battery swapping infrastructure and develop a robust electric mobility ecosystem." She added that it gives "equal emphasis to financial incentives, digital transparency, institutional oversight and environmental responsibility." The policy cites the latest Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) report, which identifies vehicular emissions as the largest contributor to Delhi's pollution, accounting for nearly 23 per cent of pollution during winter. With two-wheelers making up nearly 67 per cen of Delhi's vehicle population, the government has prioritised their electrification, along with three-wheelers, commercial vehicles and N1 category goods carriers. Also Read - Migration, duplicate addresses complicate SIR exercise in Delhi's unauthorised colonies, slums Under the policy, eligible electric two-wheelers will receive purchase incentives of up to Rs 30,000 in the first year, while electric auto-rickshaws will get incentives of up to Rs 50,000. Electric goods carriers will receive incentives of up to Rs.1 lakh, alongside scrapping incentives for replacing older BS-IV and below vehicles with electric alternatives. Electric vehicles will continue to enjoy exemption from road tax and registration fees, subject to prescribed conditions. The policy also lays down phased electrification mandates. From January 1, 2027, only electric three-wheelers and N1 goods carriers will be eligible for new registration in Delhi, while from April 1, 2028, all newly registered two-wheelers must be electric. Schools have also been directed to progressively electrify their bus fleets, reaching 30 per cent electric buses by March 2030. Also Read - Fire destroys goods worth crores at electronics store Chief Minister Gupta said, "The policy is not limited to encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles. Instead, it presents a comprehensive long-term roadmap for clean mobility by integrating charging infrastructure, battery swapping, battery recycling, energy management, digital service delivery and environmental protection." To oversee implementation, the government will establish a dedicated EV Cell under the Transport Department, constitute a High-Level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, and create a Delhi EV Apex Committee. Delhi Transco Limited has been designated as the nodal agency for developing public charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, while the Environment Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will oversee battery recycling and environmental compliance. Calling it a transformative initiative, the Chief Minister said the new policy would play "a significant step towards cleaner air, modern transport, energy conservation and sustainable development" and help establish Delhi as a national model for electric mobility.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.