'No PUC, No Fuel' Rule Applies From 1st Oct Across Delhi-NCR

PUC Rule in Delhi: Key Highlights

How Will the Pump Know Your PUCC Status?

The ANPR camera reads your number plate as you enter the fuel station. The system then checks your registration details and PUCC status against the vehicle database. If the certificate is missing or expired, the pump can refuse fuel.

Pumps are not exempt either. Under the Delhi drive, petrol pumps that fail to comply face action.

"No PUC, No Fuel” Enforcement Timeline: December 2025 to October 2026

The "No PUCC, No Fuel" Rule was already in the enforcement from 18th December 2025 across the Delhi region.

• Delhi began enforcing the “No PUC, No Fuel” across the region on 18th December 2025. Under this measure, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) were to be denied fuels.
• Delhi Police and Transport Department deployed around 580 police personnel at 126 checkpoints.
• The measure was introduced as part of stricter anti-pollution measures under GRAP-IV, which was in force because of Delhi's severe pollution conditions.
• Around 7,700 vehicles were challaned and 568 vehicles were asked to turn back for not having a valid PUCC.

Now, the “No PUCC, No Fuel” enforcement is being extended across all Delhi and 8 NCR regions on 1st October 2026 under CAQM Direction No.101 in which the vehicles without the PUC Certificate will be denied fuel in Delhi-NCR regions.

The ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras will be used to identify vehicles and verify the PUC status.

Delhi vs. Rest of NCR: What's the Difference?

In Which Region does the "No PUCC, No Fuel" Rule Apply?

The stricter “No PUCC, No Fuel” enforcement from 1 October 2026 will affect vehicle owners in Delhi-NCR whose vehicles do not have a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

The enforcement covers Delhi and the following 8 NCR districts in Uttar Pradesh:

• Delhi
• Noida
• Ghaziabad
• Greater Noida
• Meerut
• Hapur
• Bulandshahr
• Baghpat
• Shamli

What Should You Do Before Your Next Fuel Stop?

1. Check your PUCC validity: Look at the expiry date on your certificate.
2. Renew if it's expiring: Do this before you reach the pump rather than at the counter.
3. Confirm the record has updated: A newly issued certificate should show in the official database.
4. Check your registration number: A wrong or mismatched entry can cause a false flag at the pump.

Who Could Be Affected the Most?

The rule applies to vehicle owners and drivers in the Delhi-NCR region whose vehicles require a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) but do not have one.

• Private vehicle owners: Owners of cars, motorcycles and scooters.
• Commercial vehicle operators: Taxi operators, auto-rickshaw drivers, delivery-van operators and light-goods vehicle owners.
• Out-of-state commuters: People travelling to Delhi from Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and other NCR areas must ensure that their vehicle has a valid and digitally verifiable PUCC.
• Owners of older or end-of-life vehicles: Vehicles that are banned, deregistered or classified as end-of-life. In Delhi, a PUCC can't be issued to petrol vehicles older than 15 years or diesel vehicles older than 10 years, so these vehicles cannot get a valid certificate.
• Petrol pump operators and staff: Fuel station dealers and employees

Vehicle Owners Exempted From "No PUC, No Fuel" Rule

Some vehicles are not required to have a PUCC under the applicable rules. Therefore, the PUCC-based fuel restriction does not apply to them. These include electric vehicles and vehicles within one year of their first registration.

Conclusion

The No PUC, No Fuel rule applies across the entire NCR from Thursday, 1 October 2026. Under CAQM Direction No. 101, fuel can be dispensed only to vehicles that can show a valid PUCC. ANPR cameras read your number plate and check your PUCC status automatically, so a pump can refuse fuel without any human check.

What to do: Check your PUCC expiry date, renew it before it lapses, and confirm the new validity shows in the official record before you go to the pump. Old vehicles: In Delhi, a PUCC can't be issued to petrol vehicles older than 15 years or diesel vehicles older than 10 years. These owners will struggle to get a valid certificate, so they are the most exposed to this rule.

Check if you have any pending challan before the new proposed SC rule become effective.

Also, check your PUCC today, not at the pump. A valid certificate that hasn't updated in the database can still get you refused fuel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)