Delhi has just released its most ambitious EV policy yet — and it directly affects schools, car owners, two-wheeler riders, delivery workers and every commuter in the city. Here is the complete breakdown of what is mandated, what incentives are available, and what the deadlines are.
The Big Announcement — Draft Delhi EV Policy 2026-2030
The Delhi government unveiled the Draft Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026-2030 — the successor to the landmark 2020 EV policy that made Delhi India’s EV capital. The draft was released by the Transport Department’s EV Cell and is open for public feedback for 30 days.
- Feedback Deadline: May 10, 2026
- Send feedback to: evpolicy2026@gmail.com
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the policy, emphasising that it focuses on financial incentives, tax exemptions and mandatory electrification targets to reduce vehicular pollution — which accounts for approximately 23% of Delhi’s winter air pollution.
Total Budget: ₹3,954.25 crore across purchase incentives, scrapping incentives and charging infrastructure.
The School Bus Mandate — What Every School in Delhi Must Know
This is the most consequential provision for Delhi’s education ecosystem.
Phased School Bus Electrification Timeline:
| Milestone | Requirement |
| Year 2 (from policy notification) | 10% of total school bus fleet must be electric |
| Year 3 | 20% of total school bus fleet must be electric |
| By March 31, 2030 | 30% of total school bus fleet must be electric |
The mandate covers ALL school buses — whether owned by the school, leased, or hired from transport operators. Neither private nor government-aided schools are exempt.
The draft policy states: “The mandate shall apply to the total school bus fleet, whether owned, leased or hired.”
Who implements this? The Delhi Education Department is responsible for implementing the school bus electrification scheme. Both private unaided and government-aided schools are covered, with no exemption based on vehicle ownership structure.
What This Means for Schools:
Schools must begin planning their fleet transition immediately. With the 10% target kicking in within 2 years of policy notification, schools operating large bus fleets — particularly private schools with 50+ buses — need to start procurement processes now. Electric school buses have a higher upfront cost but significantly lower operational costs, particularly given Delhi’s EV charging subsidies.
Financial Incentives — The Complete Breakdown
The draft policy allocates ₹3,954.25 crore across three heads:
| Budget Head | Amount |
| Purchase Incentives | ₹1,236.25 crore |
| Scrapping Incentives | ₹1,718 crore |
| Charging Infrastructure | ₹1,000 crore |
Electric Two-Wheelers (up to ₹2.25 lakh):
| Year | Subsidy Per kWh | Maximum Subsidy |
| Year 1 | ₹10,000/kWh | ₹30,000 |
| Year 2 | Reduced | Lower cap |
| Year 3 | ₹3,300/kWh | Lower cap |
Incentives are structured to reward early adopters — the sooner you buy, the higher the per-kWh subsidy.
Electric Cars (up to ₹30 lakh ex-factory):
- 100% waiver on road tax and registration fees — valid until March 31, 2030
- Electric cars priced above ₹30 lakh will NOT receive this benefit
Strong Hybrid Vehicles:
- 50% exemption on road tax and registration fees
Scrapping Incentive (All EV Buyers):
If you scrap an old Delhi-registered BS-IV or below vehicle and buy a new EV within 6 months of receiving the Certificate of Deposit (CoD) from an authorised scrapping facility:
- Cars: ₹1,00,000 (for the first 1 lakh applicants; car price must be under ₹30 lakh)
- Incentives disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) directly to buyer’s bank account
Registration Cut-Off Dates — When ICE Vehicles Will Be Banned
The draft policy introduces hard registration cut-offs for non-electric vehicles:
| Vehicle Type | Cut-Off Date |
| New Three-Wheeler Registrations (non-EV) | Banned from January 1, 2027 |
| New Two-Wheeler Registrations (non-EV) | Banned from April 1, 2028 |
| Fleet Aggregator & Delivery Petrol/Diesel 2-wheelers | Stop inclusion immediately (BS-6 exemption till Dec 31, 2026) |
Public Transport — Delhi Government Bus Fleet
The draft policy goes beyond school buses and lays out an aggressive public transport electrification agenda:
- All new intra-state buses inducted by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) from the date of policy notification shall be electric
- All new vehicles hired by the Delhi government will be electric, except in special cases
- The government is targeting a fleet of 7,500 electric buses by March 2027 and 12,000 electric buses by 2029
- 6,130 electric buses are to be inducted in FY 2026-27 alone
Currently, Delhi already operates 3,535 electric buses out of a total fleet of 5,335 — among the largest e-bus fleets in any Indian city.
Charging Infrastructure — 5,000 Stations by 2030
The policy includes a comprehensive charging infrastructure plan:
- 5,000 public charging stations to be installed across Delhi by 2030
- All vehicle dealerships must install at least one public charging point on their premises
- Single-window clearance for home and community charging station installation
- Target of 18,000 charging stations by end-2026 (including private and commercial)
- A ₹1,000 crore allocation is specifically earmarked for charging infrastructure
Battery Recycling:
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will deploy battery collection centres across the city under a public-private partnership model, with Standard Operating Procedures for safe battery collection, storage, transportation and transfer to authorised recyclers.
Governance — EV Apex Committee
A high-level EV Apex Committee, chaired by the Transport Minister, will oversee policy implementation and fund management.
An EV Fund will be created, supported by:
- Budgetary allocations from the Delhi government
- Environmental charges
- Central government schemes (FAME, PM e-Drive, etc.)
Delhi’s EV Context — Why This Policy Matters
Delhi currently has an EV penetration rate of approximately 14% — among the highest in any Indian city and comparable to progressive global cities. This is the foundation on which the 2026-2030 policy builds.
Key milestones under the 2020 policy that set the stage:
- Over 1.7 lakh EVs on Delhi roads
- 2,452+ public charging points and 234+ battery swapping stations
- 3,535 electric buses already operational
- Delhi ranked second in India for public charging infrastructure (after Maharashtra)
The new draft policy builds on these achievements with more specific timelines, stricter enforcement mechanisms and significantly higher financial commitments.
Summary — What Different Groups Must Know
School Management:
- Start planning electric bus procurement immediately
- 10% of your fleet must be electric within 2 years of policy notification
- The mandate applies regardless of whether buses are owned, leased or hired
- Contact DoE for implementation guidance as policy is finalised
Car Owners:
- EVs priced up to ₹30 lakh get 100% road tax and registration waiver
- Scrap your old BS-IV vehicle and get ₹1 lakh additional benefit when buying an EV (within 6 months of scrappage CoD)
- Strong hybrid vehicles get 50% road tax exemption
Two-Wheeler Riders:
- Non-EV two-wheelers will be banned from registration from April 1, 2028
- Buy early for the highest per-kWh subsidy (₹10,000/kWh capped at ₹30,000 in Year 1)
Auto-Rickshaw Operators:
- Non-EV three-wheelers banned from registration from January 1, 2027
- Transition now to access incentives and avoid forced switch later
Delivery & Logistics Companies:
- Must stop inducting petrol/diesel two-wheelers and small commercial vans immediately (BS-6 exemption only till December 31, 2026)
Delhi Draft EV Policy 2026-2030 — FAQs
Q. When does the Delhi draft EV policy become effective?
It is currently in draft stage, open for public feedback until May 10, 2026. It will be finalised and notified after the 30-day feedback period.
Q. What is the school bus electrification mandate?
Schools must have 10% of their bus fleet electric within 2 years, 20% in 3 years and 30% by March 31, 2030. This applies to all buses — owned, leased or hired.
Q. Do EV cars get road tax exemption in Delhi?
Yes — 100% road tax and registration fee waiver for EVs priced up to ₹30 lakh, valid until March 31, 2030.
Q. What is the scrapping incentive under the new policy?
If you scrap a Delhi-registered BS-IV or below vehicle and buy a new EV within 6 months, you get ₹1 lakh (for cars) disbursed directly to your bank account via DBT (for the first 1 lakh applicants; car price must be under ₹30 lakh).
Q. When will petrol two-wheelers be banned in Delhi?
New non-electric two-wheeler registrations will be banned from April 1, 2028. New non-electric three-wheelers will be banned from January 1, 2027.
Q. How can I give feedback on the draft EV policy?
Send your feedback to evpolicy2026@gmail.com before May 10, 2026.
Q. What is the total budget of the Delhi EV policy 2026-2030?
₹3,954.25 crore — split between ₹1,236.25 crore for purchase incentives, ₹1,718 crore for scrapping incentives and ₹1,000 crore for charging infrastructure.
