Delhi’s winter pollution plan takes effect on November 1. Non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI are barred until January 31, with CNG, electric and essential-service exemptions; the No PUC, No Fuel rule also applies.
Delhi’s permanent winter pollution framework takes effect on November 1, 2026, bringing new checks for some vehicles entering the capital. Under the notified plan, non-Delhi-registered vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards are barred from entering Delhi between November 1 and January 31, 2027. Electric and CNG vehicles, ambulances, fire services and other essential vehicles are listed among the exemptions.
The winter plan also includes a “No PUC, No Fuel” rule. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control certificate will not be supplied fuel at petrol pumps, CNG stations or LPG outlets across Delhi. This fuel rule is described as applying throughout the year, rather than only during the three-month vehicle-entry restriction.
Who is affected by the entry restriction?
The non-BS-VI entry restriction applies to vehicles registered outside Delhi. A vehicle’s age alone is not the deciding factor in the wording of the rule; the key issues are its registration location and emission standard. CNG and electric vehicles are exempt, along with ambulances, fire services and other specified essential vehicles.
Drivers should carry the relevant vehicle registration and emissions details and check current enforcement guidance before travelling. The rule sits alongside wider GRAP and traffic-control measures, so additional restrictions may apply when air-quality stages are activated.
Other measures in the winter plan
The framework also includes doubled parking charges at authorised facilities from November 1 to February 28, staggered office timings and a 50 per cent work-from-home arrangement for government and private offices from November 1 to January 31. The plan includes restrictions on dust-generating construction activity and stronger controls on open waste burning.
What drivers should do
Before entering Delhi, check whether a vehicle is registered outside the capital and whether it meets BS-VI norms. Keep the PUC certificate valid, and confirm the latest official exemptions if the vehicle is used for an essential service. The city’s restrictions are not a blanket ban on all older vehicles everywhere in the NCR; they are specific measures with defined dates, categories and exemptions.
The policy is intended to reduce emissions during the winter pollution season. Its practical impact will depend on consistent enforcement, public transport alternatives and whether the measures improve air quality during the period.