The government has introduced the "Bharat Zero Emission Trucking (ZET) Policy Advisory," which outlines 30 policy interventions aimed at accelerating the adoption of Zero Emission Trucks (ZET) in India. This significant initiative was unveiled by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe on Wednesday. The policy document represents a crucial step towards achieving India's Net Zero 2070 target.

The ZET Policy Advisory provides a comprehensive framework for transitioning India's trucking sector to zero-emission vehicles, with an ambitious goal of achieving 100% ZET sales penetration by 2050. The interventions are categorised into five critical areas: incentives, regulations, infrastructure, business and financing, and stakeholder-centric initiatives, all designed to foster a supportive environment for the widespread adoption of ZETs. These measures address India's growing need for decarbonisation and energy security.

During the launch, Professor Sood emphasised the necessity of technical expertise and systematic policy interventions to create an enabling techno-socio-economic ecosystem in India. He highlighted the importance of ZETs in reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector and enhancing energy security.

The launch event was attended by prominent government and industry figures, including Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA; Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary (Auto), Ministry of Heavy Industries; and Sudhendu Sinha, Adviser (Infrastructure Connectivity & E-Mobility), NITI Aayog. They underscored the importance of truck electrification and discussed the strategic roadmap to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the policy advisory.

The Bharat ZET Policy Advisory is intended as a dynamic document, with each policy intervention linked to a nodal agency responsible for its implementation. The document also identifies key stakeholders, the expected impact on the sector, and the methodology of policy formulation. These recommendations will be further refined through extensive stakeholder consultations, including detailed cost-benefit and impact analyses conducted by the relevant ministries, departments, and institutions.

The development of the ZET Policy Advisory was guided by a Policy Advisory Panel (PAP) established by the Office of the PSA. A Project Management Unit was set up at the Centre of Excellence for Zero Emission Trucking (CoEZET), IIT Madras, to draft the document under the direction of the PAP. The panel is chaired by Dr. Preeti Banzal, Adviser, Office of PSA, and vice-chaired by Professor Karthick Athmanathan, PSA Fellow. It includes distinguished members from academia, industry, and international organisations, ensuring a comprehensive approach to policy formulation.