From October 1, vehicles across Delhi-NCR will need a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) to purchase petrol, diesel or CNG as authorities tighten measures ahead of the winter pollution season. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed NCR states and enforcement agencies to ensure that fuel is not dispensed to vehicles without a valid certificate, with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems being used at fuel stations to verify compliance.
In Delhi, the enforcement drive will initially cover 500 fuel stations equipped with ANPR cameras. The move is aimed at curbing vehicular emissions, which contribute significantly to pollutants including PM2.5, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Officials say the measure forms part of a broader year-round strategy to improve air quality, while experts have pointed out that a PUC certificate does not capture every pollutant emitted by a vehicle.
Fuel Access Gets Stricter
Under CAQM Direction No. 101, issued in May 2026, fuel stations across the National Capital Region have been asked to restrict refuelling for vehicles without valid PUCCs from October 1. The requirement covers petrol, diesel and CNG, bringing vehicle pollution certification directly into the process of purchasing fuel. In Delhi, authorities have prepared to implement the rule through ANPR cameras that can identify vehicle registration numbers and check their pollution certification status.
The CAQM reviewed preparations during its September 29 meeting, including the installation of ANPR systems at fuel and CNG stations across the NCR. The commission directed the concerned governments and agencies to ensure strict and coordinated enforcement of its pollution-control measures. The Delhi government has separately said that the enforcement drive will be carried out throughout the year rather than being treated as a measure limited to the winter months.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has described pollution control as a continuous responsibility. While inaugurating an automated vehicle testing station in Burari, she said temporary measures taken only during winter would not be enough and stressed the need for action across transport, green cover, electric mobility, waste management and technology-based monitoring.
Wider Winter Strategy
The fuel restriction comes as Delhi-NCR prepares for the annual deterioration in air quality associated with winter conditions. Authorities are also targeting several other sources of pollution, including construction activity, older and end-of-life vehicles, transport emissions, waste burning and crop-residue burning in neighbouring states.
Delhi’s 2026-27 winter pollution strategy includes several measures that will be introduced ahead of severe pollution episodes, rather than waiting for air quality to deteriorate. The government has announced a complete ban on construction and demolition activities from December 10 to January 20, along with a 50% work-from-home arrangement for offices during that period. These measures are intended to work alongside the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which imposes additional restrictions depending on pollution levels.
The CAQM has also been reviewing measures relating to cleaner buses entering Delhi, restrictions on certain older commercial vehicles and the installation of pollution-monitoring infrastructure across the NCR. The commission’s latest review also highlighted preparations by Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to prevent and control stubble burning during the 2026 crop season.
However, questions remain about how much the PUC system alone can achieve. According to experts cited by NDTV, conventional PUC tests do not directly measure some important pollutants, including particulate matter, particle numbers and nitrogen oxides. This means that possessing a valid certificate does not necessarily indicate that a vehicle produces negligible emissions. The effectiveness of the policy will therefore depend not only on enforcement but also on the accuracy and scope of vehicle-emission testing.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Delhi-NCR’s recurring air-pollution crisis affects children, older people, outdoor workers, commuters and families across the region, making clean air a shared public concern rather than an issue that can be addressed by one department or one season of restrictions.
Requiring vehicles to maintain valid pollution certificates can encourage greater responsibility among vehicle owners, but meaningful improvement will require consistent enforcement, transparent testing and action across multiple sources of pollution. Authorities must also ensure that citizens have easy access to reliable testing facilities and clear information so that compliance does not become an unnecessary burden.
At the same time, residents, businesses and governments all have a role in reducing emissions and supporting cleaner forms of transport. As Delhi-NCR enters another winter pollution season, what more can authorities and citizens do together to make clean air a year-round reality?
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