New Delhi GRAP Rules; Restrictions in NCR October 2026: How Year of Buying Your Car Decides Equity Entry

Delhi-NCR’s revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has tightened restrictions on some vehicles as the region braces for an annual deterioration in air quality during the winter months.

The new measures announced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) have brought many changes to the previous restrictions. However, for car owners this year, the question is not the age of the car or when it was purchased, but the type of fuel and the BS emission standard.

While there are no restrictions in the first two phases of GRAP, in Phase III, strict restrictions will apply to BS-III petrol and BS-IV light motor vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and five NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

What do these new rules mean for you as a car owner in Delhi-NCR? Here’s what you need to know.

Petrol or diesel: Which car do you own?

First of all, it is important for you whether you own a car with a petrol variant or a diesel variant.

This is important because the Stage III restrictions specifically target BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs. Unlike earlier guidelines, the revised GRAP rules do not impose the same restrictions on all petrol and diesel cars.

So simply owning an older car does not in itself determine whether a vehicle is subject to a Stage III restriction. As owners, you need to check the BS emission standard of the vehicle.

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What is the BS emission standard of your car?

Under the revised GRAP rules, BS-III petrol cars and BS-IV diesel cars come under Stage III restrictions for light motor vehicles. Restrictions apply not only in Delhi but also in Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

This means that as a car owner you should check the BS category listed in the vehicle documents and not assume a claim based on the age of the vehicle alone.

I bought the car in a specific year. What category of BS is this?

The year of purchase alone does not determine the vehicle’s BS category in the revised GRAP document. According to the CAQM notification, the restriction is due to the BS emission standard and not according to the year of purchase.

The safest way for a car owner to find out if the vehicle falls within the restrictions is therefore to check its BS emission classification in the relevant vehicle documents.

You can also check the information on the government portal Parivahan. Here you can check the status of your vehicle in a few simple steps.

Read also | CAQM Modifies GRAP Rules: Clarification of New Delhi-NCR Restrictions

Which cars will be stopped from running when Stage III is invoked?

If restrictions under GRAP Stage III are implemented, NCR city governments and Delhi government will have to impose strict restrictions on: BS-III petrol LMVs and BS-IV diesel LMVs.

The restrictions apply in Delhi as well as in the high-density areas of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

The revised GRAP document defines Stage III as AQI 401-450. The revised GRAP plan also allows action to be triggered in advance based on weather and air quality forecasts.

Does my car’s registration place matter?

Yes, depending on the type of vehicle.

For private LMVs, the Phase III provision specifically applies to Delhi and five identified high vehicle density districts.

The document separately contains registration-based restrictions for certain trucks. For example, Delhi-registered BS-IV diesel and lower-standard medium trucks face restrictions in Delhi, while such vehicles registered outside Delhi will not be allowed to enter Delhi. BS-IV diesel and sub-standard light trucks registered outside Delhi are also banned from entering Delhi under Stage III.

Therefore, private car owners should not automatically apply the lorry rules to their vehicles.

Can I drive my car in Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad or Sonipat?

The revised rules specifically include Gautam Buddha Nagar, which includes Noida, along with Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat and Ghaziabad in Stage III restrictions for BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs.

So when Stage III is in effect and you own one of these vehicles, you have to consider the restrictions not only in Delhi but also in these specified NCR districts.

What if my car is BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel but I need to enter Delhi?

The revised GRAP schedule will set strict restrictions on the driving of these vehicles once Stage III begins. It does not provide a blanket exemption simply because the owner needs to travel to Delhi.

Therefore, if you own one of these vehicles, you must check that III has been activated before planning to drive in restricted areas.

It is also important to note that GRAP constraints are cumulative, meaning that when a higher phase is invoked, constraints from earlier phases continue as well.

Are there any exceptions?

There is a special exception for people with disabilities.

The revised GRAP document says that BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs can be used by persons with disabilities provided the vehicles have been specially adapted for them and are used only for their personal use.

What if my car has a valid PUC certificate? Is it eligible?

A valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate is important but does not take precedence over the separate restrictions based on the BS Stage III standard.

The revised GRAP plan requires authorities to strictly enforce PUC standards beginning in Phase I, including taking action against visibly polluting vehicles through impoundment and/or penalties. It also calls for enforcement of existing restrictions on outdated gasoline and diesel vehicles.

Therefore, a valid PUC should not be interpreted as an exception to the GRAP restriction that applies to the BS vehicle category.

What happens if I still drive with a restriction?

The revised GRAP document calls for strict restrictions and enforcement on vehicles subject to the relevant provisions. It also specifies law enforcement agencies including traffic authorities and traffic police.

However, it does not provide for a separate penalty amount for driving a BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel LMV in contravention of the Stage III restriction.