Delhi Air Pollution Update: From November 1, these vehicles will not be allowed entry in national capital

The air quality in Delhi is deteriorating day by day, with most areas in Delhi-NCR region now falling under the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ categories. The worsening pollution levels have raised serious health and environmental concerns.

With GRAP Stage II already in force, the Delhi government is implementing additional measures to control emissions. In view of the increasing air pollution and , the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced a new set of restrictions on commercial goods vehicles entering the city, effective from November 1, 2025.

Ban on non-compliant commercial vehicles

From November 1, 2025, all non-Delhi registered commercial goods vehicles including: Light, Medium, and Heavy Goods Vehicles (LGVs, MGVs, HGVs), that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be strictly prohibited from entering the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

This decision comes as part of Delhi’s ongoing efforts to reduce vehicle emissions, which remain one of the major contributors to deteriorating air quality in the city.

One-Time relief for BS-IV vehicles

The CAQM has issued a one-time relaxation for BS-IV compliant diesel commercial vehicles, and these vehicles will be permitted entry only up to 31st October 2026.

Thereafter, only cleaner fuel vehicles or BS-VI compliant vehicles will be permitted.

Exempted vehicle types

There are some types of vehicles that will still be permitted entry into Delhi without restriction. These are:

• Commercial goods vehicles with Delhi registration
• BS-VI compliant diesel vehicles
• BS-IV diesel vehicles (up to 31 October 2026)
• CNG, LNG, and Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Regulatory authorities have explained that more curbs can be enforced based on real-time air quality during GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) phases.

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What are BS-VI emission norms?

BS-VI (Bharat Stage VI) norms are India's most advanced and stringent vehicle exhaust emission norms, which came into effect on April 1, 2020. The Euro 6 norms that are being followed all over the world, and they aim at significantly curing the pollution from vehicles by controlling the emission of the toxic gases like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO).

What is the process of the BS-VI technology?

• BS-VI standards have reduced the release of pollutants like NOx, PM, and CO from petrol and diesel cars to a very low level.
• Modern technology in the form of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is used by cars to emit less.
• BS-VI vehicles run on fuel with just 10 ppm sulfur, compared to 50 ppm for BS-IV, this results in a considerable reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions.

A step towards cleaner mobility

The CAQM's new order is another big leap toward cleaner air and greener transport in Delhi.

By further limiting the use of older, more emissions-intensive vehicles, the government hopes to hasten the shift toward green mobility options such as CNG, LNG, and electric cars in Delhi.