Honda launches its first BS-VI compliant two-wheeler: Here's all you need to know about the norms

For BS-VI norms, the grade fuel is required to emit 10 ppm sulphur and is required to bring particulate matter (PM) in diesel cars down by 80 percent.

Bharat Stage-VI will be introduced in full swing on April 1 next year.

The aim is also to bring down the nitrogen oxides from diesel cars by 70 percent and in petrol cars by 25 percent, when the automakers comply with this standard set by the government. BS-VI also directs on-board diagnostics (OBD) compulsory for all auto vehicles. The device is for informing the owner of the vehicle or the technician on how environment-friendly and fuel-efficient the vehicle is.

The standards set by the government are designed in a way that as and when the levels move up, the emission rules become stricter. Thus, the commonly heard — BS-IV compliance norm is two notches lenient as compared to the BS-VI.

The emission norms are in line with the norms in Europe called Euro 4 and Euro 6.

India is now charging ahead to make the BS norms compulsory as it struggles to deal with its proliferating air pollution problem. The reasons range from stubble burning to vehicle emissions to the construction procedures.

According to a recent study, out of 50 cities that have the poorest air quality, 25 are Indian with Gurugram being number one.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 6 lakh children die every year because of air pollution.