Delhi EV owners must now apply for subsidies directly under new policy
The Delhi government has introduced the new EV Policy 2.0, which shifts the responsibility of claiming electric vehicle incentives from dealers directly to the buyers in Delhi. Under the new rules, which will be effective from July 1, vehicle owners must apply for subsidies themselves through a dedicated online portal within 30 days of generating their Registration Certificate (RC).
The policy, approved by the Delhi Cabinet, has also been approved by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu. It will remain in force until March 31, 2030. The Transport Department will notify the policy through a gazette notification.
Under the previous electric vehicle policy, vehicle dealers assisted buyers in submitting subsidy applications at the time of purchase. The new system is designed to ensure a smooth and hassle-free disbursal of incentives, directly addressing past delays. Previously, disbursals faced long delays after the initial policy expired in August 2023, leaving thousands of claims pending.
The Transport Department is currently developing a dedicated EV portal, which is expected to be ready within a week. This online platform will serve as the nodal platform to process subsidy applications and monitor implementation. Buyers will register on the portal and submit their incentive claims online.
Once processed, the subsidies will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The claims will be processed via the Centre's Public Financial Management System.
While dealers will no longer submit the applications, they still hold key responsibilities. Dealers are now mandated to inform customers at the time of booking whether the specific EV model they are purchasing is eligible for government incentives. Once the policy is officially notified, the Transport Department will issue direct instructions to dealers to explain these incentive provisions to customers.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that the policy was prepared after extensive consultations with stakeholders. She noted that the policy goes beyond offering incentives, laying out a clear roadmap up to March 2030 for transport sector reforms, charging infrastructure expansion, and phased electrification.
Additionally, the government is developing an EV dashboard to provide real-time information on the city's charging infrastructure, such as charging station locations, waiting times, and battery-swapping facilities. Delhi currently has 5,883 EV charging stations, 8,912 charging points, and 893 battery-swapping stations, with plans to install 7,000 more by the end of the year.
