Context:
Auto majors to offer 1.5-3 % discount on purchase of new vehicles against scrappage certificate
India’s Vehicle Scrapping Policy:
- Announced by the government in March 2021
- Aim –
- Reduce the population of old and defective vehicles.
- Bring down vehicular air pollutants.
- Improve road and vehicular safety.
Provisions:
- Fitness Test – Vehicles older than 15 years (commercial) and 20 years (personal) must pass a fitness test before re-registration.
- Authorized centers assess emission, braking, and safety components.
- Emission test, braking system, safety components will be tested and the vehicles which fail in the fitness test will be scrapped.
- If the old vehicle passes the test, the owner can continue to use it, but the charges for reregistration will be steeper.
- Road Tax Rebate – State governments may offer up to 25% road tax rebate for personal vehicles and up to 15% for commercial vehicles to incentivize scrapping.
- Vehicle Discount – Manufacturers provide a 5% discount to those producing a ‘Scrapping Certificate’ when purchasing a new vehicle.
Other Initiatives to Curb Vehicular Pollution:
- Go Electric Campaign
- FAME India Scheme
- Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy 2020 for Delhi
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Bus and Car Project
- Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024
Source: Press Trust of India
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Gujarat has the largest solar park in India.
2. Kerala has a fully solar powered International Airport.
3. Goa has the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
India’s Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is the largest solar power park in the world. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin has inaugurated India’s largest floating solar power plant constructed at a cost of ₹150.4 crores.
