Delhi’s new light goods vehicles must be electric from January 2027

From January 1, 2027, a Delhi business replacing or adding a light goods vehicle under 3,500kg will be able to register only an electric model.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has ordered a phased move away from new petrol, diesel and CNG registrations for N1-category light goods vehicles. Delhi had already adopted the same requirement in its EV policy notified on July 30, 2026; the CAQM direction extends the planned transition across NCR in phases.

CAQM said light goods vehicles account for about 1.2% of the active vehicle stock in Delhi-NCR, while contributing roughly 3.3% of particulate-matter emissions from the active fleet. It said CNG produces lower primary particulate emissions than diesel but continues to emit nitrogen oxides, which can form secondary PM2.5 pollution.

A 2022 TERI analysis cited by the commission estimated that vehicles account for 18-22% of the total nitrogen-oxide load in the NCR airshed. CAQM said secondary particulates make up 27% of ambient PM2.5 in winter and 17% in summer in Delhi-NCR.

Delhi’s registration rule was set out in the city’s electric light goods vehicle policy.