Supreme Court urges a rethink of India’s 2020 EV policy, proposes metro pilot
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it may be time for the government to re-evaluate the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), 2020, in light of slow progress, urging fresh thinking to accelerate EV adoption. The Law Advice
During a hearing of a public interest litigation on e-mobility implementation, a two-judge bench (Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi) suggested starting pilot EV programmes in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, or Bengaluru.
The PIL was filed in 2019 by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, Common Cause, and the SitaRam Jindal Foundation. The petitioners argue that despite the government adopting the 2020 roadmap, key components such as incentives, tax exemptions, mandatory charging infrastructure, and fleet electrification remain poorly implemented.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, highlighted that while the 2020 plan offers rebates and exemptions, its recommendations on mandatory charging stations and fleet transition are not yet fully realised, creating a bottleneck in EV uptake.
Justice Surya Kant noted that many of the challenges, especially around charging infrastructure, stem from what he called “market-forces related issues.” He suggested leveraging existing petrol pumps and bus depots to establish charging stations.
The Attorney General, R. Venkataramani, told the court that 13 central ministries are currently reviewing the policy. He committed to filing a detailed report within four weeks, outlining actions taken so far.
Editor’s View
The Supreme Court’s call for a refresh of the 2020 EV policy is a potent signal: it’s not enough to declare electric mobility ambitions, but equally important to update and execute them in line with changing ground realities. The suggestion to begin with pilot projects in big cities is smart; metros often reflect early EV demand and infrastructure potential.
For the tyre industry, a more aggressive EV roadmap could drive demand for electric-specific tyres (low rolling resistance, high durability) as more EVs hit the road. Moreover, if government fleets begin electrifying, that gives tyre makers long-term volume opportunities in commercial EVs.
The court’s pressure on the government to deliver a roadmap also reflects a legal nudge: policy promises alone don’t suffice when environmental and health rights are at stake. If the Centre follows through, the next few years could be defining for India’s EV transition, and for all the industries (including tyres) that power it.
