The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has officially released the Draft Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026–2030, and it is already being described as the most comprehensive EV policy framework released by any state government in India.
The draft policy introduces purchase incentives, scrapping bonuses, hard electrification mandates, road tax exemptions, and a city-wide charging infrastructure plan, all under a single unified framework valid until 31 March 2030.
With vehicular emissions accounting for 23% of Delhi’s winter air pollution and two-wheelers making up a staggering 67% of Delhi’s total vehicle stock, the urgency behind this policy is clear.
Here are the 5 major highlights you need to know right now.
At a Glance:
- Up to ₹1.5 lakh in combined savings for N1 truck buyers in Year 1
- ICE three-wheelers banned from new registration starting January 2027
- ICE two-wheelers banned from April 2028
- 100% road tax exemption for EVs priced up to ₹30 lakh
- DTL designated as nodal agency for all public EV charging in Delhi
Purchase Incentives That Put Real Money Back in Your Pocket
The most talked-about feature of the Delhi EV Policy 2026–2030 is its tiered purchase incentive structure — and the numbers are significant.
GNCTD will directly subsidise EV purchases across three major vehicle categories, with Year 1 offering the highest payouts:
Electric Two-Wheelers
- Price cap: Ex-factory price must not exceed ₹2.25 lakh
- Year 1: ₹10,000 per kWh, up to a maximum of ₹30,000
- Year 2: ₹6,600 per kWh, up to a maximum of ₹20,000
- Year 3: ₹3,300 per kWh, up to a maximum of ₹10,000
Electric Three-Wheelers (E-Auto L5M)
- Year 1: ₹50,000
- Year 2: ₹40,000
- Year 3: ₹30,000
Electric Four-Wheeler Goods Vehicles (N1 Trucks)
- Year 1: ₹1,00,000
- Year 2: ₹75,000
- Year 3: ₹50,000
The structure is deliberately designed to reward early adopters.
A Delhi resident who buys an electric two-wheeler in Year 1 receives three times more incentive than someone who waits until Year 3.
For N1 truck buyers, the difference between Year 1 and Year 3 is ₹50,000 — a gap too large for any logistics operator to ignore.
All incentives will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — directly into the buyer’s bank account, with no middleman.
Scrap Your Old Vehicle and Earn Up to ₹1 Lakh Extra
Alongside purchase incentives, the policy introduces a scrapping incentive for owners who retire old, polluting BS-IV and below vehicles and replace them with a new EV.
Here is the complete scrapping incentive structure:
| Vehicle Scrapped | Scrapping Incentive |
|---|---|
| BS-IV Two-Wheeler (Delhi registered) | ₹10,000 |
| BS-IV Three-Wheeler L5M (Delhi registered) | ₹25,000 |
| BS-IV Car — ex-factory price ≤ ₹30 lakh | ₹1,00,000 |
| BS-IV N1 Goods Vehicle (Delhi registered) | ₹50,000 |
Combined maximum savings in Year 1:
| Buyer Type | Purchase Incentive | Scrapping Bonus | Total Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Wheeler buyer | ₹30,000 | ₹10,000 | ₹40,000 |
| E-Auto buyer | ₹50,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹75,000 |
| Car buyer (≤₹30L) | Road tax saved | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000+ |
| N1 Truck buyer | ₹1,00,000 | ₹50,000 | ₹1,50,000 |
Key conditions to note:
- New EV purchase must happen within 6 months of receiving the Certificate of Deposit (CoD) from an authorised scrapping facility.
- Scrapping incentive is only applicable to the owner of the scrapped vehicle — no proxy claims.
- Car scrapping incentive is limited to the first 1,00,000 eligible applicants under this policy. After that cap is reached, the incentive closes.
This is a classic scrappage + replacement policy design, and it is one of the most financially generous implementations seen at the state level in India.
100% Road Tax and Registration Fee Exemption
Money saved at purchase time is one thing. Another is money saved at the RTO.
The Delhi EV Policy 2026–2030 grants 100% exemption on road tax and registration fees for eligible electric vehicles registered during the policy period. The tier structure is as follows:
- All EVs (general category): 100% road tax and registration fee exemption at the time of vehicle registration.
- Electric cars with ex-showroom price ≤ ₹30 lakh: Full 100% exemption. Strong Hybrid EVs in the same price bracket get a 50% exemption.
- Electric cars with ex-showroom price above ₹30 lakh: No exemption. Premium EV buyers are explicitly excluded from this benefit.
The ₹30 lakh price cutoff is a clear equity decision by the government — state subsidy is directed toward middle-income and working-class buyers, not luxury vehicle purchasers.
For context, road tax on a mid-segment petrol car in Delhi can range from ₹40,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, depending on vehicle value. For EV buyers, this entire amount is waived — making the actual cost of ownership significantly lower than it appears on the price tag.
This exemption is valid until 31 March 2030.
Hard ICE Vehicle Registration Bans — With Specific Deadlines
This is where the Delhi EV Policy 2026–2030 moves beyond incentives and into mandates — and it has set some of the most aggressive electrification deadlines in India.
Electric Three-Wheelers (L5 Category)
From 01 January 2027: Only electric three-wheelers (L5 category) will be permitted for new registration in the NCT of Delhi. No new CNG or petrol three-wheelers can be registered after this date.
Electric Two-Wheelers
From 01 April 2028: Only electric two-wheelers will be permitted for new registration in the NCT of Delhi.
Fleet Aggregators & Delivery Service Providers
The mandate is already active. From 01 January 2026, no new conventional ICE vehicles — including 4-Wheeler LCVs, LGVs (N1, up to 3.5 ton), and 2-Wheelers — can be inducted into existing fleet aggregator or delivery service provider fleets. BS-VI 2-wheelers get a limited extension until 31 December 2026.
Government Fleet
From the date of policy notification, all hired and leased vehicles under GNCTD must be electric, except emergency or exempted vehicles. All new intra-state buses inducted by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) must also be electric.
School Buses
All schools in the NCT of Delhi must meet electrification targets for their bus fleets:
| Deadline | Minimum Electric Fleet Share |
|---|---|
| End of Year 2 from notification | 10% |
| End of Year 3 from notification | 20% |
| 31 March 2030 | 30% |
Compliance with school bus electrification will be integrated into the school recognition and affiliation process — meaning non-compliant schools could face consequences during their renewal or affiliation review.
These are not aspirational targets. These are legally enforceable registration rules backed by GNCTD’s regulatory authority under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Delhi Transco Limited to Lead Citywide EV Charging Infrastructure
Incentives and mandates only work if the charging infrastructure exists. The policy directly addresses this by designating Delhi Transco Limited (DTL), under the Power Department, as the nodal agency for all public EV charging and battery swapping infrastructure across the National Capital Territory.
DTL’s mandated responsibilities include:
- Planning and deploying all public charging and battery swapping stations across Delhi.
- Maintaining uptime and developing Service Level Benchmarks (SLBs) for performance and reliability.
- Assessing future electricity load requirements arising from EV charging demand.
- Creating a dedicated digital portal for end-to-end management of charging infrastructure — covering site onboarding, approvals, monitoring, and reporting.
- Establishing a Single Window Clearance facility for charge point operators and battery swapping operators for faster approvals and EV connection.
A High-Powered Committee under the Chief Secretary of GNCTD — comprising representatives from Transport, Power, Planning, Environment, Finance, and DTL — will oversee the rollout.
OEM Responsibility: Every Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) operating in NCT of Delhi must deploy at least one public EV charging station per dealer outlet, with a minimum of:
- 3 charging points for two-wheelers and three-wheelers
- 2 charging points for four-wheelers
GNCTD will also submit a proposal to the Ministry of Heavy Industries under the PM E-Drive Scheme to unlock central government funding for charging and swapping infrastructure.
What This Means for Delhi Residents: The Bottom Line
The Delhi EV Policy 2026–2030 is not a passive incentive scheme. It is a time-bound transition plan with financial rewards for early movers and hard deadlines for everyone else.
The five highlights above tell a clear story:
- Buy early — Year 1 incentives are the highest they will ever be under this policy.
- Scrap old vehicles first — the scrapping bonus stacks on top of purchase incentives for maximum savings.
- Zero registration cost — for most EV buyers, the RTO cost is eliminated.
- The ICE clock is ticking — three-wheelers have until January 2027, two-wheelers until April 2028.
- Infrastructure is coming — DTL’s city-wide charging mandate gives buyers confidence that charging support will follow.
The policy is valid until 31 March 2030. For Delhi’s vehicle owners, fleet operators, OEMs, and logistics companies — the time to act is now.
FAQ
Q1. When does the Delhi EV Policy 2026–2030 come into effect?
The policy is applicable from the date of official notification by the Government of NCT of Delhi. It remains valid until 31 March 2030, unless extended or modified. All incentive timelines (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3) are calculated from the date of notification.
Q2. Can I claim both the purchase incentive and the scrapping incentive together?
Yes. Both incentives are cumulative. You must scrap a Delhi-registered BS-IV or below vehicle and purchase a new EV within 6 months of receiving the Certificate of Deposit (CoD) from an authorised scrapping facility to claim both benefits simultaneously.
Q3. Is the ₹1 lakh car scrapping incentive available to everyone?
No. The car scrapping incentive of ₹1 lakh is limited to the first 1,00,000 eligible applicants under this policy. Once this cap is reached, the incentive will no longer be available. Early application is strongly advised.
Q4. Will existing petrol and CNG vehicles in Delhi be banned after 2027–28?
No. The bans apply only to new registrations. Existing registered ICE vehicles can continue to operate. The policy does not impose any operational ban on vehicles already on Delhi’s roads.
Q5. Who is responsible for building EV charging stations in Delhi?
Delhi Transco Limited (DTL), under the Power Department of GNCTD, is the designated nodal agency for planning and deploying all public EV charging and battery swapping infrastructure across NCT of Delhi