📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
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Delhi to Enforce Pollution Under Control Norms from Oct 1 to Curb Winter Smog
✍️ India Today
🗓 26 Sep 2026, 10:01 PM
👁 11
From October 1, Delhi will strictly apply Pollution Under Control standards on vehicles to mitigate the expected rise in winter air pollution.
The Delhi government announced that, starting October 1, all motor vehicles will be required to meet the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification before they can be driven on the city’s roads. The move comes ahead of the winter season, when particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide levels traditionally surge, causing hazardous air quality.
Authorities will conduct random checks at traffic checkpoints and major entry points to the city. Vehicles found without a valid PUC sticker will face fines and possible impoundment, officials said. The enforcement drive will be coordinated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee in partnership with the traffic police.
The decision aligns with the national guidelines that urge metropolitan areas to tighten emission standards during winter months. Environmental experts expect the stricter checks to reduce the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 by a noticeable margin, though they caution that vehicle compliance alone cannot fully eliminate the smog problem.
The government also urged commuters to consider public transport, car‑pooling, and non‑motorised options to further ease the pollution burden. Monitoring stations across Delhi will publish real‑time air‑quality data to track the impact of the new measures.
Authorities will conduct random checks at traffic checkpoints and major entry points to the city. Vehicles found without a valid PUC sticker will face fines and possible impoundment, officials said. The enforcement drive will be coordinated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee in partnership with the traffic police.
The decision aligns with the national guidelines that urge metropolitan areas to tighten emission standards during winter months. Environmental experts expect the stricter checks to reduce the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 by a noticeable margin, though they caution that vehicle compliance alone cannot fully eliminate the smog problem.
The government also urged commuters to consider public transport, car‑pooling, and non‑motorised options to further ease the pollution burden. Monitoring stations across Delhi will publish real‑time air‑quality data to track the impact of the new measures.