By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi government has unveiled a people-centric electric vehicle (EV) policy offering financial incentives of up to ₹1.5 lakh for eligible buyers, with a strong focus on reducing ownership costs and improving the livelihoods of commercial drivers, small businesses and middle-income families.
Announcing the benefits of the Delhi EV Policy 2026, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative goes beyond promoting clean mobility by making electric vehicles a financially attractive option through a combination of purchase incentives, scrapping benefits, lifetime road tax exemption and registration fee waivers.
Under the policy, eligible buyers of electric two-wheelers can save more than ₹50,000 through purchase and scrapping incentives, while electric auto-rickshaw buyers can receive benefits exceeding ₹75,000. Commercial N-1 electric goods carriers are eligible for incentives and concessions amounting to nearly ₹1.5 lakh, significantly lowering their initial acquisition cost.
The government has also introduced a scrapping incentive of up to ₹1 lakh for buyers replacing conventional fuel-powered private cars with electric vehicles, although no direct purchase subsidy will be provided for private EVs. Officials said the policy prioritises public investment in vehicle categories that generate the greatest environmental impact while supporting commercial transport operators, delivery partners and small business owners.
The policy guarantees lifetime exemption from road tax and a complete waiver of registration fees for eligible vehicles, alongside lower operating and maintenance costs compared with petrol and diesel vehicles. According to the government, these long-term savings could exceed the value of the initial financial incentives over the vehicle’s lifetime.
With more than 300 registered EV models already available in Delhi, the government has advised buyers to verify that their chosen vehicle is approved under the Delhi EV Policy before making a purchase. The list of eligible models will be published on the Transport Department’s online portal.
