[sukhoi30]

Here is an interesting article on this topic. And some shocking revelations too...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...w/57276017.cms

The PUC norms for on-road vehicles are extremely lax for the older pre-Bharat stage IV vehicles. While under PUC, petrol cars are tested for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons along with lambda (that indicates the optimum condition needed for proper functioning of catalytic converters), diesel vehicles are tested only for smoke density. While all norms are lax, those for on-road diesel vehicles are particularly lenient - smoke density norms are 50 HSU only for the Bharat Stage IV-compliant diesel vehicles. For pre-BS-IV vehicles, the norm is as lax as 65 HSU. In Singapore and Pakistan, this norm is 40 HSU; in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia it is 50 HSU for all genre of vehicles.

[dass]

Originally Posted by manuc

The validity is one year. Gazette notification by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways published 23 Feb 2012 is attached (PDF).

Wow, I did not know about this at all. Here in Bangalore, the certificate is only valid for 6 months, I don't think this news is out in the open at all. One of those hush hush updates, which probably they haven't published for their own benefits. It's a pain to see the car being revved hard for 10-15 minutes when it goes for a PUC check and I always wondered why it needed to be done every 6 months and not yearly, like in the case of insurance.

How do we get this validated by the PUC centers? they will always plead ignorance.

[drmohitg]

^^ Why to bother about lax values? Half the time the PUC booth attendant doesn't even bother to measure the values and just gives you a new certificate.

Originally Posted by dass

Wow, I did not know about this at all. Here in Bangalore, the certificate is only valid for 6 months, I don't think this news is out in the open at all. One of those hush hush updates, which probably they haven't published for their own benefits.

In Delhi, they have been issuing the yearly valid certificates from quite some time now.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by dass

Here in Bangalore, the certificate is only valid for 6 months.

How do we get this validated by the PUC centers? they will always plead ignorance.

Never mention 6 months/1 year. They will try to hoodwink you. Just tell them to ensure that your vehicle is mentioned as BS IV compliant.

The problem is more because of our own ignorance. The very first time we get our PUC test done, we should check whether the correct stage has been entered. Once the record goes into the database, which in case of Karnataka vehicles, is available at http://www.karnatakapuc.in/ReportingUser/Scgr1.aspx, the same is carried over during the subsequent tests.

I learned it the hard way. My 2010 K series Estilo is listed as pre BS II . I have now spread the word and a colleague got his 2011 Ford Fiesta Classic diesel certified for a year.

[khoj]

No one has to tel any one anything. The PUC chaps go via the information on the RC or your previous PUC and enter the year accordingly and the system does the rest, at least that is the way it works here in Dilli.

Originally Posted by dailydriver

Never mention 6 months/1 year. They will try to hoodwink you. Just tell them to ensure that your vehicle is mentioned as BS IV compliant............

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by khoj

No one has to tel any one anything. The PUC chaps go via the information on the RC or your previous PUC and enter the year accordingly and the system does the rest, at least that is the way it works here in Dilli.

Precisely. If a wrong entry/selection has been made the first time (or in the previous PUC test), the same will continue unless we check and correct it.

This is specially for car models that were in production even before the BS IV norms were implemented and continued to be manufactured in the BS IV compliant versions too. Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire is one such car. For illustration, i have attached a screenshot from our own 'used car price check' tool (that is the easiest i could find), that shows the various variant options.


The same options are displayed on the emission test center's computer too. Whereas selecting a Vdi will get you a certificate valid for six months, clicking on Vdi BS IV will give you an extension of six more months. No marks for guessing what option the centre's chap will find beneficial in choosing. Hence, it is our responsibilty to ensure the correct selection of variant/stage.

This is not a problem for cars that came to be manufactured after the BS IV norms were implemented.

[condor]

Originally Posted by drmohitg

^^ Why to bother about lax values? Half the time the PUC booth attendant doesn't even bother to measure the values and just gives you a new certificate..

^^ Why bother going to a place that does not give a correct PUC certificate ?

For people going to such places -
1) Is your vehicle in that bad a shape that it would fail if tested correctly ?

2) By going to such places, you are making the system more lax.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by condor

^^ Why bother going to a place that does not give a correct PUC certificate ?

For people going to such places -
1) Is your vehicle in that bad a shape that it would fail if tested correctly ?

2) By going to such places, you are making the system more lax.

I don't particularly seek such places. I go to the 2-3 petrol pumps that fall on my way whenever one of the car needs a PUC check. But yes I am far from being a "Krantikari" and just let the booth guy do whatever he wants. Educating him about the merits and demerits of this PUC certificate is not my cup of tea. As far as I am concerned it is just a piece of paper that costs me 100 bucks. What I know for a fact is that everyday on my way to work, I come across atleast a handful of vehicles including both two and four wheelers ( Two>four) who are happily tottering along belching out smoke from their tail pipes. No PUC, no law and no cop action ever can prevent that.

Yes I have become a pessimistic now.

[FanaticOnWheels]

Considering the modern vehicles which are in the market today, I was just wondering if a check is required every 6 months (Though I get them done)? What are the standards abroad?

[aravind.anand]

I guess this should not be a mandate for new cars at least. As all new cars have OBD-II, which lights up the Engine malfunction lamp, if the O2 sensor detects a increase in the emissions threshold.

On an other note, if they really want to save the planet by keeping emissions in check, they should check all those Government owned buses which never undergo preventive maintenance and those over loaded trucks, that emit black smoke all the time..!

[dass]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

The problem is more because of our own ignorance. The very first time we get our PUC test done, we should check whether the correct stage has been entered. Once the record goes into the database, which in case of Karnataka vehicles, is available at http://www.karnatakapuc.in/ReportingUser/Scgr1.aspx, the same is carried over during the subsequent tests.

.

This is very good information, thank you for sharing. I checked the online record and it has all my details listed, but does not mention anything about the BS3 or BS 4 classification. I guess, I will have to specifically ask the tester to enter the car as a BS4 vehicle. This scam must have been going on for ages now, and no one but we ourselves are to be blamed for this.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by dass

I checked the online record and it has all my details listed, but does not mention anything about the BS3 or BS 4 classification.

It should be there in the 9th column of the table, under the head 'Emission norms'.

[dass]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

It should be there in the 9th column of the table, under the head 'Emission norms'.

I don't find it, all that I can see are given below..

[NPV]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

It should be there in the 9th column of the table, under the head 'Emission norms'.

Yes, this is correct

Originally Posted by dass

I don't find it, all that I can see are given below..

Check at the link provided in the earlier post as well - Link

Enter the vehicle registration number, select Petrol/Diesel vehicle type and click Search.

The screen now displays a table like this which has the "Emi Norms" column and that will tell you BS II/III/IV.
*This site is for Karnataka registered vehicles



*I found out accidentally about the PUC validity being different for vehicles depending on BS stage/date of manufacture.
I had the Wagon R tested recently after it turned a year old and I saw that validity was for 1 year and on enquiring with the folks at the testing centre, they said for vehicles manufactured from 2011 onwards it is 1 year and for earlier vehicles it is 6 months (I hope they actually meant BS Stage IV and not just 2011 blindly!).

[dass]

Interesting, I checked the link and below is what I see, I do not see the norms column at all. this is for a diesel car, not sure if that makes a difference.