Daily News Analysis

Bharat stage emission standards

stylish_lining

Context: The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Centre to formulate a policy to phase out heavy-duty diesel vehicles and to replace them with BSVI vehicles.

News:

  • The Supreme Court directed the Centre to formulate a policy within six months regarding the use of the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Tughlaqabad, Delhi, to address air pollution concerns.
  • The order followed a plea by the Container Corporation of India challenging the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) directive from March 8, 2019.
  • The NGT had instructed the corporation to ensure a phased shift from diesel vehicles to electric, hybrid, and CNG vehicles at the ICD, citing their contribution to air pollution in the Delhi NCR area.

The Bharat Stage (BS) Emission Standards

  • They are regulations established by the Indian Government to control the emission of air pollutants from automobiles.
  • The determination of fuel standards in the country falls under the jurisdiction of the Environment Ministry, while the Central Pollution Control Board oversees the implementation of these standards.
  • These regulations are modeled after the European emission standards. Manufacturers have the option to introduce vehicles adhering to BS VI fuel standards even before the April 2020 deadline, but post-deadline, non-compliant vehicles will not be eligible for registration.
  • The enforcement of these new norms is expected to significantly reduce pollution levels by decreasing particulate matter (PM) emissions, with vehicles being a significant contributor to air pollution.

BS-VI emission norms

  • The implementation of BS-VI emission norms has been announced by the Union Environment Minister, slated to begin in 2020, with the aim of significantly reducing vehicular pollution.
  • Vehicle manufacturers are required to adopt new technologies to ensure compliance with the BS-VI standards.
  • Originally scheduled for 2022, the transition to BS-VI vehicles has been expedited by four years due to the alarming air quality conditions.
  • Starting from April 1, 2020, all vehicles, including four and two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, must adhere to the new BS-VI standards.
  • Currently, India utilizes BS IV and BS III fuels, contributing to increased levels of hazardous air pollutants associated with health issues like asthma, bronchitis, heart diseases, and cancer.

Critical Minerals

India’s first auction of deep-sea blocks for the extraction of critical minerals has been delayed indefinitely after receiving a poor response from bidders. This auction was expected to be a
Share It

President's Rule

The extension of President’s Rule in Manipur has brought to the fore the historical and controversial use of Article 356 of the Indian Constitution, shedding light on how its imposition disr
Share It

Beggars' Homes in India

In M.S. Patter v. State of NCT of Delhi, the Supreme Court (SC) held that state-run beggars’ homes are not merely penal institutions or charitable endeavors but are instead constitutional tr
Share It

Public Distribution System (PDS)

India's Public Distribution System (PDS) has long been a cornerstone of food security, ensuring access to subsidised cereals for millions of people. However, a recent Crisil study using the &l
Share It

Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA)

The recent Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA) represents a major shift in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and South Asia, with significant implications for Indi
Share It

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement is facing significant challenges in adapting its controls to the rapid growth of cloud technology. This issue highlights the need to update its control lists and enforcem
Share It

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2023 highlights a 9.2% increase in crimes against children in India, with 177,335 cases registered in total. This reflects a concerning rise in
Share It

Doctrine of Contributory Negligence

The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently made an important ruling regarding the doctrine of contributory negligence in criminal law. The court clarified that contributory negligence does not apply t
Share It

Perpetual Bonds

The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) recently raised ₹453 crore at an interest rate of 7.70% per annum through its second issue of Perpetual Bonds. This move is part of the
Share It

Fake News

The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology in India has recently proposed several measures aimed at tackling the pervasive issue of fake news and misinformation, acknowled
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS