· PUC · Delhi-NCR · Pollution
No PUC, No Fuel Across NCR — and the Proposed New PUC Validity Periods
Written and checked byManju Shekhar· Motor Law & Compliance
Key points
- Delhi pumps have refused fuel to vehicles without a valid PUC since 18 December 2025. The whole NCR followed on 1 October 2026 under CAQM Direction No. 101.
- The penalty for driving without a valid PUC is separate from being refused fuel: up to ₹10,000 plus three months’ licence disqualification.
- Since 15 August 2026 a first offence carries no jail term; a repeat can draw up to six months.
- A MoRTH draft of 22 July 2026 proposes PUC validity of 3 years for new BS-VI private vehicles, falling to 6 months after 10 years, and 3 months for BS-I to BS-III vehicles. It is not final.
Where the rule applies
Two rules with two start dates now have the same effect across the National Capital Region. Delhi began enforcing “No PUC, No Fuel” on 18 December 2025: fuel stations stop dispensing petrol or diesel to a vehicle without a valid Pollution Under Control certificate. On 1 October 2026 the same model was extended to the rest of the NCR under Direction No. 101 of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), approved at the Commission’s 28th full meeting on 15 May 2026.
That brings in the NCR districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad. The requirement applies to motor vehicles generally, so two-wheelers are covered as well as cars.
How pumps know
Enforcement relies on Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras at fuel stations. They read the registration number and check the vehicle’s PUC status against the government database before fuel is dispensed. There is no general exemption for a vehicle whose PUC has just lapsed, so the practical course is to renew before the expiry date printed on the certificate.
The penalty is separate — and it changed in August
Being turned away at a pump is an administrative measure. The offence of driving without a valid PUC sits in Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, which was rewritten by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 with effect from 15 August 2026.
| Before 15 August 2026 | From 15 August 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| First offence | Up to 3 months, or up to ₹10,000, or both; plus 3-month licence disqualification | Penalty of up to ₹10,000; plus 3-month licence disqualification; no jail |
| Second or subsequent offence | Up to 6 months, or up to ₹10,000, or both | Up to 6 months, or up to ₹10,000, or both |
The draft that would change how long a PUC lasts
On 22 July 2026 MoRTH published draft rules (G.S.R. 664(E)) to replace Rule 115(7) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, which sets PUC validity. Validity would depend on the emission norm and, for BS-VI vehicles, on the vehicle’s age from first registration.
| Vehicle | Proposed PUC validity |
|---|---|
| Any vehicle meeting BS-I, BS-II or BS-III | 3 months |
| Any vehicle meeting BS-IV | 6 months |
| BS-VI private (non-transport) vehicle, up to 6 years old | 3 years |
| BS-VI private vehicle, 6 to 10 years old | 1 year |
| BS-VI private vehicle, over 10 years old | 6 months |
| BS-VI transport vehicle, up to 6 years old | 2 years |
| BS-VI transport vehicle, 6 to 10 years old | 1 year |
| BS-VI transport vehicle, over 10 years old | 6 months |