BS (Bharat Stage)

• Bharat stage emission standards are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles. The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment & Forests and climate change.

• The standards, based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000. Progressively stringent norms have been rolled out since then. All new vehicles manufactured after the implementation of the norms have to be compliant with the regulations. Since October 2010, Bharat Stage (BS) III norms have been enforced across the country. 

• In 13 major cities, Bharat Stage IV emission norms have been in place since April 2010 and It's enforced for whole country from April 2017. In 2016, the Indian government announced that the country would skip the BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020. The phasing out of 2-stroke engine for two wheelers, the cessation of production of Maruti 800 & introduction of electronic controls have been due to the regulations related to vehicular emissions.

• While the norms help in bringing down pollution levels, it invariably results in increased vehicle cost due to the improved technology & higher fuel prices. However, this increase in private cost is offset by savings in health costs for the public, as there is lesser amount of disease causing particulate matter and pollution in the air. Exposure to air pollution can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, which is estimated to be the cause for 6.2 lakh early deaths in 2010, and the health cost of air pollution in India has been assessed at 3% of its GDP.

• India's tryst with BS and Euro norms

 The first emission norms in India were introduced in 1991 for petrol and the next year for diesel vehicles. In around 2005 and 2006, BS III was rolled out in NCR and several other cities in a bid to check on pollution. This was almost similar to European standards (Euro III) which was in place between 2000 and 2005 in most western nations.While India implemented BS III norms across the nation only in 2010, other developed nations had moved onto Euro 4 (January, 2005), Euro 5 (September, 2009) and Euro 6 (September, 2014). Each progression meant stricter emission norms. Now, BS IV will be in place for all new vehicles in India starting April 1 but that has not gone down too well with several auto manufacturers.

• Automakers' grouch? 

While a few auto companies have welcomed the decision to implement BS IV, many are saying they were not given enough time to update technology and to dispose off their existing BS III stock. After Supreme Court on Wednesday said health of citizens was far more important than commercial interests, Mahindra and Mahindra in statement said that while it respects the apex court's decision, the 'unexpected ruling will have a one-time material impact.'

source: TOI
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