Desk Correspondent , New Delhi – Under the Delhi government's draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026-2030, released on April 11, 2026 Delhi schools will be required to electrify at least 10% of their buses within two years. The policy, aims to combat the capital's severe pollution caused by vehicals by targeting school buses first. It applies to all schools including of government, government-aided, and private and covers every bus, whether owned, leased, or hired. Public feedback is invited for the next 30 days before the policy is finalised.

The draft sets phased targets is 20% electrification by the end of the third year after notification, escalating to 30% of the entire school bus fleet by March 31, 2030. This builds on the 2020 EV policy, whose initial three-year term ended in 2023 but has been extended. The move is part of broader efforts to promote clean mobility and reduce emissions from high-usage institutional fleets. Alongside electrification, schools must conduct regular awareness drives and student-led campaigns on air pollution, its health and environmental impacts, energy conservation, and sustainable travel choices. These initiatives aim to foster long-term behavioural change among students, teachers, and school management.

The policy addresses Delhi's persistent air quality crisis, where vehicular emissions remain a major contributor. By mandating time-bound adoption in schools, the government seeks to accelerate the shift from conventional to electric buses while encouraging practical environmental education. Once notified, non-compliance could affect school affiliations. The draft is expected to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly's budget session after incorporating public suggestions. This institutional focus on school transport marks a significant step in Delhi's EV transition, linking cleaner commutes for children with the city's fight against pollution.