
The Government of India has instituted Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) to regulate the output of air pollutants from compression ignition engines and spark-ignition engines, including motor vehicles. The BSES have been progressively rolled out since their introduction in 2000, with each iteration introducing stricter emission standards compared to its predecessor. The latest iteration, BS6, was implemented due to rising pollution in the country, particularly in metro cities. All vehicles running on Indian roads, including BS6 vehicles, are required by law to have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate, which is obtained by taking the vehicle to an emission testing centre.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Emission standards set by | Government of India |
| Implemented by | Central Pollution Control Board, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
| First introduced in | 1999 |
| Current iteration | BS6 or BSVI |
| Previous iterations | BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4 |
| Required for | All vehicles running on roads, including BS6 vehicles |
| Certificate name | Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate |
| Certificate validity for new BS6 vehicles | One year |
| Certificate validity after the first year | Six months |
| Certificate cost | Rs. 60 to Rs. 100 |
| Certificate renewal process | Visit an emission testing centre with the vehicle |
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What You'll Learn

All vehicles require a pollution certificate
All vehicles in India require a pollution certificate, regardless of whether they are BS6-compliant or not. This includes all vehicles running on internal combustion engines (CNG/LPG, petrol/diesel) and excludes electric vehicles, which do not require a pollution certificate because they do not emit pollutants.
The pollution certificate, also known as the PUC (Pollution Under Control) Certificate, is issued by the government and is only given to vehicles whose emission levels are within the permissible limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The permissible pollution levels and timelines for implementation are set by the Board, with progressively stringent norms being rolled out over time.
To obtain a PUC Certificate, vehicle owners must take their vehicle to an emission testing centre. The testing process involves inserting a device into the vehicle's exhaust pipe and revving the engine so that the device can analyse the exhaust emissions. The device will then display the readings, and the operator will take a picture of the vehicle's registration plate to generate the PUC Certificate. The cost of obtaining a PUC Certificate typically ranges from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100, depending on the type of vehicle and fuel type.
It is compulsory for every vehicle owner to carry a valid PUC Certificate and maintain it by renewing it periodically. For new vehicles, the PUC Certificate is valid for one year, after which it must be renewed every six months. Failure to carry a valid PUC Certificate can result in the vehicle being seized by the traffic police.
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BS6 vehicles need a PUC certificate
In India, the Government has placed forth regulations known as Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) to regulate the output of air pollutants from compression ignition engines and spark-ignition engines, including motor vehicles. The standards are based on European regulations, which were first introduced in 1999 in India. Since then, progressively stringent norms have been rolled out.
The BS6 (BSVI) standards are the latest iteration of these regulations, which mandate that every vehicle manufacturer must manufacture, sell and register only BS6 vehicles. These standards are more stringent than their predecessor, BS4, and have resulted in significant modifications to vehicles, such as the addition of SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) to control nitrogen oxide emissions in diesel engines.
All motor vehicles that run on internal combustion engines (CNG/LPG, petrol/diesel) need to have a Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate. This includes BS6 vehicles. The PUC Certificate is issued by the government and is only given to vehicles whose emission levels are within the permissible norms. The validity of a PUC Certificate for a new BS6 vehicle is one year, after which it must be renewed every six months.
To obtain a PUC Certificate, one must take their vehicle to an emission testing centre. The process involves inserting a device into the vehicle's exhaust pipe and revving the engine to analyse the exhaust emissions. The operator will then take a picture of the vehicle's registration plate and generate the PUC Certificate. The cost of a PUC Certificate typically ranges from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100, depending on the type of vehicle and fuel type. It is important to always carry a valid PUC Certificate while driving, as failing to do so can result in the vehicle being seized by the traffic police.
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Emission testing centres issue certificates
In India, any vehicle running on the road requires a pollution certificate, including those that are BS6 compliant. The introduction of BS6 norms was a significant change in exhaust emission norms, and automobile manufacturers put in a lot of work to develop new engines to meet these norms.
Emission testing centres play a crucial role in ensuring vehicles meet the required pollution standards. However, there have been instances of fraudulent practices by some testing centres, where fake pollution under control (PUC) certificates have been issued to vehicle owners without proper testing. This issue has been prevalent in Bengaluru, where transport department officials have been lax in monitoring and checking vehicle pollution levels. The testing centres have taken advantage of loopholes in the system, issuing certificates without the presence of the vehicle or the necessary emission testing equipment.
To combat this issue, the transport department has initiated measures such as taking over the networking system, instructing the installation of CCTV cameras at testing centres, and conducting surprise checks. These steps aim to ensure the authenticity of PUC certificates and hold testing centres accountable for proper vehicle testing.
It is important to note that while there are instances of fake certificates, many emission testing centres operate legitimately. Vehicle owners are responsible for ensuring their vehicles meet emission standards and obtaining valid PUC certificates. The testing fee typically ranges from Rs. 50 for two-wheelers to Rs. 125 for diesel vehicles.
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Renew certificates every six months
In India, the Government has placed forth regulations known as Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) to regulate the output of air pollutants from compression ignition engines and spark-ignition engines, including motor vehicles. The BSES standards are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
All vehicles running on the road, including those that are BS6 compliant, require a Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate. The PUC Certificate is issued by the government and is only given to vehicles whose emission levels are at par with the emission norms.
The validity of a PUC Certificate for a new BS6 vehicle is one year. After that, you must renew the pollution certificate every six months. You cannot renew or apply for a new pollution certificate online. To renew the certificate, you must follow these steps:
- Take your vehicle to an emission testing centre.
- Position the vehicle as per the instructions stated by the emission testing device operator.
- The testing centre operator will insert a device inside the exhaust pipe.
- Start your vehicle and rev the engine so the device can analyse the exhaust emissions.
- The device will display the readings on the computer screen.
- The operator will click a picture of your vehicle’s registration plate and generate the PUC certificate.
- Pay the fees and collect the pollution certificate.
The cost of a PUC Certificate depends on the type of vehicle and fuel type. It usually ranges from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100. You can visit the official website of Parivahan to check the pollution certificate details and status online.
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Electric vehicles exempt from certificates
In India, any vehicle running on the road, including BS6-compliant ones, requires a pollution certificate. This is to comply with the law and to know the pollution generated by the vehicle.
However, electric vehicles are exempt from certain certificates and regulations in some countries. For example, in the Philippines, electric vehicles are exempt from number coding restrictions under the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP). This program, also known as the number coding scheme, is a traffic management strategy implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to reduce road congestion. Electric vehicles are granted this exemption under Republic Act No. 11697, also known as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA). The EVIDA Law also offers other advantages to EV owners, such as priority in vehicle registration, distinctive special license plates, tax breaks for manufacturers and importers, and support for the development of charging infrastructure.
In Australia, eligible electric cars and associated car expenses are exempt from fringe benefits tax (FBT). This includes the private use of an electric car and the cost of fuel, including electricity to charge it. However, this benefit is reportable, and the eligibility of a car for this exemption depends on its value being below the LCT threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles at the time of its first retail sale and in any subsequent sales.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all vehicles that run on roads in India are required to have a pollution certificate. This includes vehicles that are BS6 compliant.
You can obtain a pollution certificate, also known as a PUC Certificate, by taking your vehicle to an emission testing centre. The testing centre operator will insert a device into the exhaust pipe and start the vehicle to analyse the exhaust emissions. After this, you will need to pay a fee to obtain the certificate.
For new BS6 vehicles, the PUC Certificate is valid for one year. After that, you must renew the pollution certificate every six months.











































