Delhi EV Policy 2026 cleared by Cabinet: BJP promises "cleaner air", AAP calls it "repackaged", Congress flags battery disposal concerns
New Delhi, June 29
In a major push towards cleaner mobility and tackling air pollution, the Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved the Delhi EV Policy 2026, an ambitious roadmap aimed at accelerating electric vehicle adoption, expanding charging infrastructure and gradually transitioning several vehicle categories to zero-emission mobility.
The policy, approved under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, will come into effect on July 1, 2026, and remain valid until March 31, 2030. It will now be sent to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Taranjit Singh Sandhu for final approval before implementation.
The policy provides a range of incentives to encourage electric vehicle adoption across categories.
Under the new framework, EV buyers will receive a 100 per cent exemption on road tax and registration fees, with the benefit applicable to electric four-wheelers priced up to Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom).
The government has announced purchase incentives of up to Rs 30,000 for electric two-wheelers, Rs 50,000 for electric three-wheelers, and Rs 1 lakh for N1 category goods vehicles.
In addition, scrapping incentives will be offered to owners replacing older polluting vehicles with EVs. The incentives include up to Rs 1 lakh for four-wheelers, Rs 50,000 for N1 trucks, Rs 25,000 for three-wheelers, and RS 10,000 for two-wheelers.
One of the policy's biggest highlights is the proposed expansion of charging infrastructure, with more than 30,000 EV charging points planned across Delhi. Incentives will be transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
The policy also introduces a phased transition toward electric mobility. From January 1, 2027, only electric three-wheelers and N1 goods carriers will be registered in Delhi. From April 1, 2028, registration of only electric two-wheelers will be allowed.
The government has also laid down electrification targets for school buses, aiming to convert 10 per cent of fleets within two years, 20 per cent within three years, and 30 per cent by March 2030.
To support implementation, the Delhi government has approved a financial commitment of over Rs 7,000 crore over the next four years. According to government estimates, the overall benefit of the policy, including incentives, infrastructure support and tax exemptions, could exceed Rs 15,000 crore.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the policy as a transformative initiative backed by the Centre.
"Pollution in Delhi is a challenge that requires coordinated action across the NCR. This policy has been finalised after extensive consultations and will benefit every vehicle buyer in Delhi. No state in the country has provided this level of support for EV adoption. Delhi EV Policy 2026 will be a transformative and revolutionary policy that will make Delhi eco-sustainable, affordable and future-ready," Gupta said.
She also stressed that the policy places special emphasis on replacing older BS-IV and ageing vehicles through scrappage incentives.
Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the policy had been designed to ensure public benefit while reducing pollution.
"It gives me great pride to say that we have passed our EV policy in the Cabinet today. It has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval. We are introducing this policy for the benefit of the people of Delhi. I urge everyone to understand it and adopt electric vehicles so that Delhi becomes a clean, pristine and better city," he said.
Highlighting incentives for young buyers and vehicle scrappage, Singh added, "The Delhi government is committed and accountable to making Delhi a clean city. We are introducing such incentives that I have unwavering faith the people of Delhi will benefit greatly."
In a separate statement, Singh described the policy as a "significant initiative towards building a clean, green and modern Delhi" through the expansion of charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, promotion of electric commercial fleets and cleaner public transport.
Delhi Minister Ashish Sood called the policy a landmark step toward sustainable development.
"Delhi's EV policy has now been formulated. It will make a difference in the lives of Delhi's people. The nation's capital should have modern infrastructure, and its transport system should eliminate pollution," Sood said.
In a post shared on X, Sood described the policy as "a historic initiative towards sustainable development and clean transportation," saying it would promote EV adoption, expand charging and battery-swapping networks, create green jobs and strengthen Delhi's position as the country's leading EV capital.
He further said the policy marks "a major step towards cleaner air, smarter mobility and a sustainable future" and would help lower ownership costs while building a greener transport ecosystem.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also welcomed the decision, saying the policy would help phase out older polluting vehicles.
"This EV policy will help act against pollution by easing out polluting vehicles. Pollution in Delhi can be decreased if EV vehicles are brought in," Sirsa said.
In a separate statement, he termed the policy "a powerful commitment to building clean air, modern transportation and a developed Delhi," adding that it would boost investment, employment and green development while encouraging citizens to adopt electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit welcomed efforts to reduce pollution but cautioned that electric mobility alone would not solve Delhi's environmental challenges.
"The issue of Delhi's pollution is very complex. We have talked about continuous construction, crumbling roads and flying dust. With EVs, too, one big question is what will happen to the disposal of batteries. This pollution will also have to be solved by the government. It should not happen that we spoil the future while trying to solve today's problems," Dikshit said.
From Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra called for greater financial support to make electric vehicles affordable.
"If electric vehicles are introduced, the government should provide sufficient subsidies so that these vehicles become very cheap. Compared to petrol and diesel vehicles, EVs are expensive. The government should make electric vehicles cheaper than conventional vehicles," he said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP government of repackaging initiatives introduced during the Arvind Kejriwal administration.
"In Delhi, it's easy to take Arvind Kejriwal's work, rename it and call it your own. When Arvind Kejriwal made this policy, Delhi became the third-largest city globally in terms of EV use," she said.
"As a result, we gave many incentives so that people switch towards EVs, consumption of petrol and diesel decreases, and we move towards zero emissions. All this has already happened. Today, Rekha Gupta ji wants to repackage it and call it her own..." Kakkar added.
She claimed that during the AAP government's tenure, around 3,000 charging stations and 300 battery-swapping stations were established, along with incentives that encouraged citizens to shift towards electric mobility.
"Keep copying Arvind Kejriwal's schemes, keep renaming them, there's no problem. Imitation is the best form of flattery. But also implement this in your other states," she remarked.
Kakkar also raised concerns about pollution from thermal power plants around Delhi-NCR, alleging that the Centre had diluted mandatory requirements for flue-gas desulfurisation (FGD) technology.
According to her, pollution control measures beyond vehicle electrification are necessary if Delhi is to achieve meaningful improvements in air quality.
With the policy now awaiting the Lieutenant Governor's approval, the Delhi government hopes the combination of subsidies, scrappage incentives, charging infrastructure and phased electrification mandates will accelerate the capital's transition to clean mobility while addressing one of its most persistent challenges--air pollution.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I moved to Delhi from London last year and the air quality is honestly frightening. This policy is a step in the right direction though I wish they'd focus more on public transport electrification rather than just private vehicles. The school bus electrification target is good but 30% by 2030 feels too slow for a city that needs urgent action.
Congress is right to raise battery disposal concerns - we can't solve one pollution problem by creating another. But honestly, the scrapping incentives are very thoughtful. My dad's old 2005 WagonR is just sitting there, and now we can finally exchange it for an EV with decent benefits. Hope the LG approves this quickly! 🚗✨
As someone working in the renewable energy sector, I find the AAP's accusation of 'repackaging' somewhat valid - the 2024 EV policy already had similar incentives. But credit where due, the infrastructure expansion plan is genuinely ambitious. What's missing is proper grid preparation - 30,000 charging points will require serious substation upgrades. Let's hope the ₹7,000 crore covers that.
आखिरकार! I was tired of waiting for this. The phase-out plan from 2027 for three-wheelers is excellent - our auto-rickshaws are a major pollution source. But I wish they'd also address the stubble burning issue from Punjab and Haryana, which contributes massively to Delhi's winter pollution. You can't fix air quality with EVs alone if farm fires keep happening! 🇮🇳
J Jessica F This is exactly We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.