The Commission for Air Quality Management introduced revised GRAP rules for Delhi and NCR this October 2026. Authorities now focus on emission standards rather than vehicle age. Motorists caught without a valid PUC face a ₹10,000 fine. Meanwhile, driving banned BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel cars attracts a ₹20,000 penalty.

The new GRAP rules determine vehicle bans based on the Bharat Stage (BS) emission category rather than simply the registration year or age of the vehicle. According to a PTI report:

With the onset of the winter season and deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has introduced a revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

According to news agency PTI, strict vehicle restrictions have been outlined, placing the focus squarely on emission standards and compliance.

The revised framework contains 48 actions across four stages, bringing certain restrictions into force earlier and removing select exemptions, PTI reported.

For motorists in Delhi NCR, failure to comply with the updated pollution and vehicle guidelines will result in substantial penalties.

Car fine amounts and PUC compliance

Enforcement of pollution norms is taking a stringent turn this October.

Authorities have strengthened the "No PUCC, No Fuel" rule. Under this directive, fuel stations have been instructed not to dispense fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.

Motorists caught operating a vehicle without a valid PUC face a hefty ₹10,000 fine, according to PTI.

In a further push to discourage private vehicle use during peak pollution, parking charges will be doubled.

Electric vehicles, however, will not face any additional parking charges. To reduce commuter traffic, office timings will be staggered, and a 50% work from home policy will be implemented under the severe stages.

Petrol vs Diesel vs CNG: Which cars are banned?

The new GRAP rules determine vehicle bans based on the Bharat Stage (BS) emission category rather than simply the registration year or age of the vehicle. According to a PTI report:

Under GRAP Stage III, strict plying restrictions apply to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers. Violators found driving these vehicles face a severe penalty of ₹20,000.

These private car restrictions are active in Delhi as well as specified NCR districts, which now prominently include Sonipat alongside Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Owners of BS-VI petrol and diesel cars, as well as CNG and electric vehicles (EVs), are exempt from this specific private-car restriction under Stage III.

While CNG and EVs bypass this particular ban, they must still comply with other standard requirements, such as maintaining valid pollution-control documentation.

Commercial vehicles and essential commodities

Commercial transport faces even tighter curbs under the updated guidelines. The revised schedule restricts the entry into Delhi of diesel BS-IV and light and medium goods vehicles registered outside the capital.

The CAQM has officially removed earlier exemptions that allowed BS-IV and older goods vehicles carrying essential commodities to operate during the severe GRAP stages, PTI reported.

Changes to other GRAP stages

In a bid to combat air pollution at an earlier stage, several measures have been postponed. Restrictions on diesel generator sets and the entry of older, non-compliant inter-city buses have been moved from Stage II to Stage I, bringing them into force earlier during periods of air quality deterioration, according to PTI.

The CAQM is also targeting dust and construction pollution, requiring construction and demolition sites larger than 500 square metres to strictly adhere to approved dust control plans and clearly display PM levels to the public.