BS-VI PUC Rule: If you own a new BS-VI petrol, diesel, or CNG car or bike, you may soon be relieved of the hassle of repeatedly obtaining a Pollution Under Control (PUC/PUCC) certificate. The central government is preparing to make a major change to the PUC rules. According to the proposed rules, the validity of PUCs for new BS-VI private vehicles could be extended from one year to three years. This will save millions of vehicle owners both time and expense.
What is the government’s new proposal?
According to media reports, the central government has issued a draft notification for this change. The aim is to provide relief to modern vehicles that already comply with BS-VI emission standards and emit relatively less pollution. According to this proposal, BS-VI private vehicles up to six years old will have to renew their PUC every three years, instead of every year. For BS-VI vehicles between six and ten years old, the validity of the PUC will be one year. If the vehicle is more than 10 years old, it will remain mandatory to obtain a PUC every 6 months, as is the current system.
No relaxation in rules for older vehicles
It is seen that the government has not made any major relaxations in the rules for vehicles with older emission standards. According to the draft, the PUC for BS-IV vehicles will be renewed every 6 months as before. Meanwhile, PUC for BS-I, BS-II, and BS-III vehicles will have to be obtained every 3 months. This simply means that the older and more polluting a vehicle is, the more frequently it will need to be inspected.
Separate rules for commercial vehicles
The draft notification also proposes separate rules for BS-VI commercial vehicles. The PUC for commercial BS-VI vehicles up to 6 years old will remain valid for 2 years. Vehicles 6 to 10 years old will have to renew their PUC every 6 months, while for commercial vehicles older than 10 years, PUC will be mandatory every 6 months.
When will the new rules be implemented?
For now, the government has only issued a draft notification. The final notification will be issued only after receiving suggestions from stakeholders and the public. Importantly, the validity of vehicles with existing PUCs will not change immediately. The new period will apply upon the first renewal. If a vehicle owner renews the PUC certificate 10 days before its expiration, the new validity will be valid from the expiration date of the old certificate.
If this proposal is approved, millions of vehicle owners driving new BS-VI cars and bikes will receive significant relief. This will not only reduce visits to PUC centers, but will also reduce administrative burden and encourage the use of modern, less polluting vehicles.