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Core Purpose

The Central Government, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, notifies the Central Motor Vehicles (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026, to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, primarily introducing new Bharat Stage VI (WLTP) emission standards and related testing and compliance procedures.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, acting on behalf of the Central Government, issued Notification G.S.R. 112(E) on 4th February, 2026, to enact the Central Motor Vehicles (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026. These rules, made in exercise of powers conferred by Section 110 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988), amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. This amendment follows the publication of draft rules (G.S.R 270 (E) dated 28th April, 2025) and consideration of public objections and suggestions. The new rules come into force on their publication date in the Official Gazette. Specifically, Rule 115 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, is amended: in sub-rule (2), clause (i), TABLE A, Note, second proviso, the letters and figures “or AIS-175” are inserted. Additionally, a new clause (iA) is inserted in sub-rule (18), establishing Emission Standards for Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) with Worldwide Harmonized Light duty Test Procedure (WLTP) for M2 category vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) not exceeding 3500kg and M1 category vehicles manufactured on or after 1st April 2027. This includes detailed exhaust emission limits for Positive Ignition (PI) and Compression Ignition (CI) internal combustion engines (e.g., CO, THC, NMHC, NOx, PM, PN limits like 1000 mg/km CO for PI and 500 mg/km CO for CI). The rules also specify test requirements as per AIS-175, including chassis dynamometer tests, Conformity of Production (COP) procedures, reference fuels, crankcase ventilation, evaporative emission limits (2.0g/test for gasoline vehicles), NOx reduction agent AUS 32, visible pollutants for diesel vehicles, engine power measurement, Type-II Test, Free Acceleration Smoke, Deterioration Factors (Table 2), On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) system thresholds (Table 3, e.g., 1900 mg/km CO for PI and 1750 mg/km CO for CI), In-use performance ratio (IUPR) requirements (e.g., 0.520 for evaporative emission purge control monitors), In service compliance, and Real world driving cycle emission measurement using PEMS (Table 4 for Conformity Factor, e.g., NOx with margin 0.43 and PN with margin 0.5). Furthermore, CNG, Bio-CNG, or HCNG vehicles must meet safety requirements as per AIS 024 and AIS-028 Revision 1. Vehicle manufacturers must define and display ethanol blend compatibility (E85, E100) via stickers as per AIS 171:2021, and all gasoline-fuelled Mono Fuel and Bi-Fuel Vehicles with Positive Ignition Engines, including Hybrids, must be certified with Ethanol (E20) fuel. Rule 115-G, sub-rule (2) is substituted to state that compliance procedures under sub-rule (1) shall be as per Document No. MORTH/CMVR/TAP-115/116 or AIS-137, and after AIS-175 is notified, as per AIS-175. The principal rules were initially published vide G.S.R. 590(E), dated 2nd June, 1989, and last amended vide G.S.R. 48 (E) dated 20th January, 2026.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-07022026-269923 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No.106] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026/MAGHA 16, 1947 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY [PART II-SEC. 3(i)] MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 4th February, 2026 G.S.R. 112(E).-Whereas, the draft rules further to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 were published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 212 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988), vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide number G.S.R 270 (E), dated the 28th April, 2025 in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section (3), Sub-section (i), inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; And whereas copies of the said Gazette notification was made available to the public on 29th April, 2025; And whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft rules have been considered by the Central Government. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 110 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement. — (1) These rules may be called as the Central Motor Vehicles (Fourth Amendment) Rules, 2026. (2) Save as otherwise provided in these rules, they shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 115,- (a) in-sub-rule (2), in clause (i), in TABLE A, in Note, in second proviso, after the words, letters and figures, "TAP documents Nos. 115 and 116 or AIS-137" the letters and figures “or AIS-175" shall be inserted; (b) in sub-rule (18), after clauses (i), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- "(iA) The Emission Standards for Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) with Worldwide Harmonized Light duty Test Procedure (WLTP) test cycle: The emission standards for vehicles of category M2 with Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) not exceeding 3500kg and for vehicles of category M1, manufactured on or after 1st April 2027 for all models, shall be as under:- TABLE 1 Exhaust Emission Limits for Vehicles Fitted with PI and CI Internal Combustion Engines: (BS-VI) WLTP +----------+-------+---------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Category | Class | Reference Mass (RM) | Mass of Carbon | Mass of Total | Mass of Nonmethane | Mass of Nitrogen | Mass of Combined | Mass of Particulate | Number of Particles | | | | (2) (kg) | Mon-oxide (CO) (mg/km)| Hydrocarbons (THC) (mg/km) | Hydrocarbons (NMHC) (mg/km) | Oxides (NOx) (mg/km) | Hydrocarbons & NOx (THC+NOx) (mg/km) | Matter (PM) (mg/km) | (PN) (#/km) | | | | | (L1) | (L2) | (L3) | (L4) | (L2 + L4) | (L5) | (L6) | +==========+=======+=====================+=======================+=======================+=======================+=======================+=======================+=======================+=======================+ | | | | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI (1) | CI | PI (1) | CI | +----------+-------+---------------------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+ | M | All | | 1000 | 500 | 100 | 68 | | | 60 | 80 | 170 | | 4.5 | 4.5 | 6x10¹¹ | 6x10¹¹ | +----------+-------+---------------------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------+-----------+ PI = Positive Ignition, CI = Compression Ignition 1. For positive ignition, particulate mass and number of particles limit shall apply only to vehicles with Direct Injection engines. 2. "Reference mass" means the vehicle's mass in running order less the uniform mass of the driver of 75 kg and increased by a uniform mass of 100 kg. Application of Test Requirements for Type-Approval – BS-VI, with WLTP test procedures, shall be same as that of Table 2 of rule 115 (18) (i) including explanatory note (1) to (5) only. Notes. - 1. The test shall be on Chassis Dynamometer. 2. The test procedure including driving cycle shall be as provided in AIS-175 as amended from time to time. 3. There shall be no relaxation of norms for Conformity of Production (COP) purposes and procedure for compliance shall be as per AIS-175 as amended from time to time. 4. Specifications for Reference Fuels shall be same as that of Note 4 of rule 115(18)(i). 5. Crankcase ventilation system shall not permit the emission of any of the crankcase gases into the atmosphere. 6. Evaporative emission shall not be more than 2.0g/test from Gasoline fuelled vehicles. The evaporative emission test procedure for gasoline fuelled vehicles shall be as per the procedure specified in AIS-175 and as amended from time to time. 7. The Conformity of Production (COP) testing procedure shall be as described in AIS-175 and as amended from time to time. 8. Conformity of Production (COP) frequency and samples shall be same as that Note 8 of rule 115(18)(i). 9. Specifications for Commercial Fuels shall be same as that note 9 of rule 115(18)(i). 10. Specifications of NOx reduction agent AUS 32 (Aqueous Urea Solution) shall be same as that of Note 10 of rule 115 (18) (i). 11. For diesel vehicles, the requirements for the emission of visible pollutants (smoke) shall be same as that of Note 11 of rule 115 (18) (i). 12. The engine power shall be measured on engine dynamometer and the procedure and requirements for the measured power shall be same as that of Note 12 of rule 115 (18) (i). 13. Type-II Test: Vehicles fitted with PI engines specified in this sub-clause shall comply with the provisions of clause (i) of sub-rule (2) of rule 115 as applicable. 14. Free Acceleration Smoke: Vehicles fitted with CI engines specified in this sub-clause shall comply with the provisions of clause (ii) of sub-rule (2) of rule 115 as applicable. 15. Deterioration Factor shall be as given in the following Table: - Table 2 Deterioration Factor: (BS-VI) WLTP +-----+----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+----------+--------------------+-----------------+ | Sl. | Engine Category| CO | THC | NMHC | NOx | HC+NOX | Particulate Matter | Particle Number | | No. | | | | | | | (PM) | (PN) | +=====+================+=======+=======+=======+=======+==========+====================+=================+ | (1) | Positive | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | - | 1.0 | 1.0 | | | Ignition | | | | | | | | +-----+----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+----------+--------------------+-----------------+ | (2) | Compression | Deterioration Factors shall be established by using the whole vehicle or bench ageing durability test procedures as per AIS-175 as amended from time to time. | | | Ignition | | +-----+----------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ (i) Alternatively, for PI vehicles, the vehicle manufacturer may opt for a vehicle ageing test of 1,60,000 km or bench ageing durability test, for evaluating the Deterioration factor as per AIS-175 and as amended from time to time. (ii) This test may be performed by driving vehicle on a test track, on the road, or on a chassis dynamometer or Engine Test Bench as per AIS-175 and as amended from time to time (iii) The above ageing test should be carried out by the approved test agency specified in rule 126. 16. The vehicles shall be equipped with On-Board Diagnostic (BS- VI WLTP - OBD) systems for emission control which shall have the capability of identifying the likely area of malfunction by means of fault codes stored in computer memory as per the procedure laid down in AIS-175 and as amended from time to time when that failure results in an increase in emission above the limits given in the following Table, namely:- Table 3 On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) Threshold for vehicles: BS-VI WLTP +-----+-----------+---------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Sl. | | Reference mass (RM) | CO | NMHC/ | NOx | PM | | No. | | (2) (kg) | (mg/km) | (mg/km) | (mg/km) | (mg/km) | | | Category | | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI | CI | PI (1) | CI | | | Class | | | | | | | | | | +=====+===========+=====================+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+ | (2) | M (M1 & M2)| All | 1900 | 1750 | 170 | 290 | 90 | 140 | 12 | 12 | +-----+-----------+---------------------+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+---------------+-------+ Explanatory Notes to Superscript- (1) For positive ignition, particulate mass apply only to vehicles with direct injection engines (2) Reference mass" means the vehicle's mass in running order less the uniform mass of the driver of 75 kg and increased by a uniform mass of 100 kg. 17. In-use performance ratio (IUPR) for BS-VI WLTP vehicles complying to these rules, the in-use performance ratio (IUPR) of a specific monitor M of the OBD systems shall be: IUPRM = Numerator/ Denominator (i) Comparison of Numerator and Denominator gives an indication of how often a specific monitor is operating relative to vehicle operation. Detailed requirements for tracking IUPR are given in AIS-175. (ii) If, according to the requirements specified in AIS-175, the vehicle is equipped with a specific monitor M, IUPRM shall be greater or equal to the following minimum values. (a) 0.520 for evaporative emission purge control monitors. (b) 0.336 for all other monitors. (c) 0.260 for secondary air system monitors and other cold start related monitors. 18. In service compliance of vehicles shall be as per procedure laid down in AIS-175 and as amended time to time. 19. For the vehicles complying to these Rules, Real world driving cycle emission measurement using PEMS shall be carried out for vehicles as per the procedure laid down in AIS-175 as amended from time to time, for all models during Type Approval. The RDE Conformity Factor (CF), shall be as per following Table namely:- Table 4 Conformity Factor (CF) : BS-VI WLTP +----------+-----------------------------------+-------------------------+ | Sl. No. | Pollutant | CFpollutant | +==========+===================================+=========================+ | (1) | NOx | 1 + margin (3) NOx | | | | With margin NOx = 0.43 | +----------+-----------------------------------+-------------------------+ | (2) | PN (1) | 1 + margin (3) PN | | | | With margin PN = 0.5 | +----------+-----------------------------------+-------------------------+ | (3) | CO (2) | - | +----------+-----------------------------------+-------------------------+ Explanatory Notes to Superscripts- (1) Applicable for: Positive Ignition (Direct Injection) engines and Compression Ignition Engines only; (2) CO emissions shall be measured and recorded at RDE tests; (3) Margin is a parameter taking into account considering the additional measurement uncertainties introduced by the PEMS equipment. 20. The CNG or Bio-CNG or HCNG Vehicles shall meet all the safety requirements as per AIS 024, AIS-028 Revision 1 as applicable. 21. The compatibility of vehicle to the level of Ethanol blend of E85 and E100 shall be defined by the vehicle manufacturer and the same shall be displayed on the vehicle by putting a clearly visible sticker as per AIS 171:2021. 22. All the Gasoline fuelled Mono Fuel and Bi-Fuel Vehicles with Positive Ignition Engines including Hybrids shall be certified with Ethanol (E20) fuel.". 3. In the said rules, in rule 115-G, for sub-rule (2), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - "(2) The procedure for ensuring compliance under sub-rule (1) shall be as laid down in Document No. MORTH/CMVR/TAP-115/116 or AIS-137, as amended from time to time. On and after the AIS-175 is notified, the procedure for ensuring compliance under sub-rule (1) shall be as laid down in AIS-175 as amended from time to time as mentioned under the corresponding applicable rules.". [F. No. RT-11036/25/2025-MVL] MAHMOOD AHMED, Addl. Secy. Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, sub-section(i) vide G.S.R. 590(E), dated the 2nd June, 1989 and lastly amended vide G.S.R. 48 (E) dated the 20th January, 2026. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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