NITI Aayog has submitted a draft cabinet note that calls for developing a strategy to scale-up transformative mobility and encourage the use of zero emissions vehicles and ancillary technology.

The note was brought to the attention of the Lok Sabha by Rao Inderjit Singh, the minister of state for the Ministry of Planning.

Singh was replying to questions about the steps being taken by the government to promote electric mobility in the country.

Recently, Minister for Power R.K. Singh chaired a meeting with battery manufacturers in New Delhi that discussed creating an ecosystem that incentivizes battery manufacturing in India.

In his statement, Singh clarified that NITI Aayog is not designated to be the nodal agency for the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) or clean mobility, but rather as a think tank to help implement EVs in the country.

Singh stated, “In order to promote electric vehicles, NITI Aayog in its role as the government’s think tank has proposed the formation of six committees, each headed by a secretary who decides on the relevant matters and issues.”

The committees would finalize non-fiscal incentives for electric mobility, the promotion of last mile connectivity, electric mobility in public transportation, research and development (R&D) for electric mobility, charging infrastructure for electric mobility, and demand and supply side incentives, added Singh.

The move demonstrates that the government is actively participating in ensuring that the EV sector in India has strong growth. This proactiveness is resulting in heightened activity by corporates that are now seeking to gain a foothold in the Indian EV sector.

However, in February 2018, Mercom reported that the government was unlikely to announce a pan-India policy framework for the EV industry. So far, the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have come up with their specific policies for EVs. A single policy framework is required for a country like India, where implementation is an issue even in the most progressive of states.