Delhi Govt Extends EV Policy Till March Next Year

The Delhi government has reportedly extended the current electric vehicle policy till March 31, 2026, or till a revised version is notified, as the draft of the new policy will undergo public consultation, which is expected to take time.

A PTI report said that the decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held under chief minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi secretariat yesterday.

Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh underlined the need for “broader dialogue” before rolling out the updated policy.

“The extension will enable the transport department to conduct comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders — including citizens, industry leaders, academic experts, environmental groups and both public and private institutions,” said Singh.

“These discussions will focus on enhancing EV charging infrastructure, reviewing existing incentives and subsidies, establishing robust e-waste and battery disposal mechanisms and clearly defining public-private roles in Delhi’s evolving EV ecosystem,” he added.

The new policy also aims to create a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem by establishing battery collection centers and a network of charging and swappable battery stations. 

The policy’s deadline was previously extended by three months in April, from the initial expiration date of January 1, 2025.

In April, Delhi’s environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the second phase of Delhi’s EV Policy is expected to generate 20,000 new employment opportunities. These jobs are anticipated to span various roles within the EV ecosystem, from managing charging stations to overseeing battery recycling processes.

Sirsa’s statement aligns with the broader goals of the Delhi government to promote the adoption of EVs and reduce vehicular pollution in the city.

What Is Proposed For Delhi EV policy 2.0

The new Delhi EV policy, which still awaits clearance from the Centre, is primarily determined to transition to complete electric mobility by cancelling fossil fuel vehicles, and forecasts a potential ban on new petrol vehicle registrations in the city.

Further, it proposes setting up 13,200 public charging stations and mandates electrification of public transport fleets. 

Under this policy, the capital is also planning to offer a purchase subsidy of up to INR 30,000 for buying EV two-wheelers.

The existing EV policy was rolled out by the Delhi government in August 2020, to control the city’s worsening air pollution and encourage the adoption of EVs. The initiative targeted to have one out of every four vehicles sold in Delhi by 2024, to be an EV.

As per Vahan data, overall EV registrations across vehicle types stood at 1.75 Lakh units in June, up more than 20% YoY.