Delhi Cracks Down on Air Pollution with New Fuel Purchase Rule

New Delhi is stepping up its battle against worsening air quality with a move that will affect thousands of vehicle owners across the city. Starting Thursday, drivers won’t be able to buy fuel unless their vehicle has a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday. Sirsa said vehicle owners were given a short window to comply, but from Thursday onwards, petrol pumps will refuse to provide fuel to any vehicle that doesn’t carry a current PUC certificate. “After tomorrow, vehicles that do not have a valid PUC certificate will not be provided fuel,” he told reporters. Delhi has been grappling with extremely poor air quality for several weeks, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently in the ‘severe’ category, levels known to harm public health and visibility around the city. Sirsa acknowledged that pollution levels have recently worsened, but argued that ongoing efforts have kept the situation from getting even more dangerous. As part of the crackdown, officials are also enforcing rules that allow only BS‑VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi to enter the city, another key step to reduce emissions from older, more polluting vehicles. The new “no fuel without PUC” rule is designed to push more drivers to get their vehicles checked and certified for emissions, aiming to cut down on one of the biggest sources of smog in the capital. While authorities say it’s necessary to protect public health, enforcement is expected to pose challenges for many daily commuters. Meanwhile, the Delhi government, on Monday, directed all schools to move to mandatory online classes for students from nursery to Class 5, following a sharp spike in air pollution across the capital. Previously, parents could decide whether to send their children to school or have them attend classes online, but that choice has now been removed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Addis Ababa for a two-day State visit to Ethiopia, welcomed personally by Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali. Abiy Ahmed Ali drove PM Modi to the hotel, making unscheduled stops at the Science Museum and Friendship Park. The visit aims to boost India-Ethiopia ties, with talks on trade, agriculture, education, technology, and regional issues. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.