India will leapfrog to BS VI emissions standards in 2020 to cut emissions by 80-90 per cent from new vehicles. But real emissions and health benefits are possible only if these advanced technologies are properly operated and maintained and requirements for real world emissions tests are made tighter with strong deterrence for tampering. This discussion is needed immediately to speed up readiness in our cities by 2020 and also to inform and influence next round of revision of BS VI regulations in 2023. This policy brief undertakes a review of available information and proposes a roadmap to inform the post-2023 reforms of the BS VI regulations.

To kick-start this discussion, a rapid review was carried out on the available information on the post Euro-VI reforms that have been initiated in Europe as well as carried out a stakeholder consultation in India to identify the gaps in the current regulations on BS VI emissions standards and test procedures and to chart the roadmap to inform the post-2023 reforms of the BS VI regulations.