Air pollution in India: In the wake of the alarming air pollution in the country and especially in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed that no Bharat Stage IV vehicle shall be sold across India with effect from April 1, 2020. The Bharat stage emission standards are standards instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles. The Bharat Stage VI (or BS-VI) emission norm would come into force from April 1, 2020, across the country.

It was made clear by a three-judge bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur that only BS VI compliant vehicle shall be sold in the country from that date. The bench said the need of the hour was to move to a cleaner fuel. BS IV norms have been enforced across the country since April 2017. In 2016, the Centre had announced that the country would skip BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms by 2020.

Meanwhile, the air quality of Delhi continued to be in the 'poor' category on Tuesday, with the Environment minister directing all officers and agencies to be in "war mode" to combat air pollution. Delhi's Anand Vihar at 999 under 'Hazardous' category. ANI reported today, the area around US Embassy, Chanakyapuri at 208 and area around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 214 under 'Unhealthy' category in Air Quality Index.


Besides, the Supreme Court yesterday ruled that people in the country can burst firecrackers from 8 PM to 10 PM only on Diwali and other festivals, permitting the sale and manufacture of low emission "green" firecrackers countrywide. Environment and health experts welcomed the order, with some describing it as a "spectacular" decision, while others saying it was time the society celebrated festive occasions "more responsibly".