BS V norms to be implemented in 2019

Government confirms BS V emissions norms. The move to jump directly from BS IV to BS VI norms gets a no go

Ending the oil ministry’s debate of whether automobile emissions norms will jump directly from BS IV to BS IV, the government has announced that Bharat Stage V or BS V norms will be enforced across India from the year 2019. That said, there is still some time to go before BS IV emissions norms are implemented all over India. It is only by the 1^st of April in 2017 when all states in India will comply with BS IV norms.

Oil Refiners supported the move to adopt cleaner BS VI norms directly from BS IV as the cost of adopting measures to upgrade to BS VI grade fuel is more or less similar to meeting BS V norms. And by first meeting BS V norms and then BS VI would require additional investment. But car manufacturers were reported to be sternly against the move to jump directly to BS VI norms due to requirement of heavy investments in a shorter timeframe. Sulphur emissions in BS VI fuel is a fifth of that of BS V fuel.

It has been reported that a statement has been uploaded on the oil ministry’s website stating, "It has also been decided that BS-V fuel quality and emission norms will be implemented in the entire country from 2019 and BSVI emission norms for four-wheelers shall be implemented from 2023."

Following the launch of the Prime Minister’s National Air Quality Index, pressure on the government is rising to speed up efforts to improve fuel quality and cut down tail pipe emissions.

The Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025 released in 2014, stated that the estimated capital cost for refiners across the country to upgrade to BS V norms was Rs. 80,000 crore.