EV charger government policies in India span central-government schemes, Ministry of Power (MoP) guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) technical standards, and state EV policies. Understanding this policy stack is essential for anyone deploying EV charging infrastructure — from fleet operators and commercial property managers to charge point operators (CPOs). This article covers FAME II and its successor schemes, the PLI scheme for advanced batteries, MoP charging guidelines, and state-wise EV policies with their incentive structures.
Central-Government Schemes
FAME II and Its Successors
FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles Phase II) ran from 2019 through 2024, with a ₹10,000 crore outlay covering vehicle demand incentives and public charging infrastructure. Under FAME II, sanctioned charging stations were deployed across highways and metro cities. The demand-incentive component was continued via the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) in 2024 and then the PM E-DRIVE scheme announced in 2024 with a ₹10,900 crore outlay running through 2026.
PLI for ACC Batteries
The Production Linked Incentive scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries allocates ₹18,100 crore to build 50 GWh of domestic battery manufacturing capacity. Awarded to Reliance, Ola, Rajesh Exports, and ACC Energy, the programme underpins the long-term economics of EV adoption by lowering battery cost — which in turn drives charging infrastructure demand.
PLI for Auto and Auto Components
The ₹25,938 crore PLI scheme for auto sector supports domestic manufacturing of advanced automotive technology including EV powertrains and charging equipment, with sales-linked incentives payable to manufacturers meeting domestic-value-add thresholds.
Ministry of Power EV Charging Guidelines
The MoP EV charging guidelines, first issued in 2018 and revised most recently in 2024, form the operating rulebook for public charging in India:
- De-licensed activity — operating a public charging station does not require a separate electricity distribution licence.
- Minimum infrastructure — each public charging station must include at least one of each connector type (CCS2, CHAdeMO, Type 2 AC), with minimum power levels specified.
- Open access — any EV user can access any public station, with interoperable payment and identification systems.
- Service tariff regulation — state electricity regulatory commissions cap service charges to prevent price gouging.
- Density targets — one public charging station every 3 km × 3 km in cities, every 25 km on highways.
For a technical overview of connector types and charger specifications, see the blog post on EV charging levels. For complete MoP-compliant charger product range, visit the Tech OVN EV chargers page.
BIS Standards for EV Chargers
Indian Standard IS 17017 (adapted from IEC 61851) defines conductive charging systems for EVs. Key parts:
- IS 17017-1 — general requirements
- IS 17017-2-1 — AC charging station requirements (covers Type 2, Bharat AC-001)
- IS 17017-23 — DC charging station requirements (covers CCS2, CHAdeMO, Bharat DC-001)
- IS 17017-25 — DC wallboxes for home charging
State EV Policies
State governments have published their own EV policies, typically layering on top of central schemes with additional subsidies and process simplifications:
Delhi
The Switch Delhi policy (2020, extended through 2026) offers ₹6,000 per charging point subsidy for the first 30,000 private chargers, concessional EV tariff, waiver of road tax and registration fees for EVs, and capital subsidy for public charging infrastructure.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra EV Policy (2021) provides up to ₹10 lakh per public charging station capital subsidy, EV-specific power tariff, and property-tax waivers. Priority cities (Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik) are targeted for early density buildout.
Karnataka
Karnataka was India's first state with an EV policy (2017), updated periodically. Capital subsidies for public chargers, interest-free loans for fleet operators, and dedicated EV cells within BESCOM (Bangalore DISCOM) to simplify connection processes.
Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh
Each state has its own EV policy with capital subsidies for public chargers (₹1–10 lakh per station depending on type), EV-specific tariff structures, and process simplifications. Tamil Nadu's policy (2023) focuses heavily on manufacturing incentives; Telangana targets Hyderabad as a priority deployment city.
How This Affects a Charge Point Operator
For a business planning to operate public charging stations, the policy stack translates into:
- No distribution licence required — register as a CPO with the DISCOM.
- Procure BIS-certified chargers meeting IS 17017 and MoP guidelines on connector types.
- Apply for state-specific capital subsidies (₹1–10 lakh per station depending on state and charger type).
- Obtain EV-tariff category connection from the DISCOM (or procure via open access for larger deployments).
- Install compliant metering infrastructure — the charging station must separately meter energy delivered to EVs for billing and compliance. Tech OVN's EV charging metering solution covers this.
- Register on the EV payment interoperability platform (where mandated by the state).
Outlook 2026 and Beyond
The policy direction is consolidation: PM E-DRIVE replaces FAME and EMPS as the unified vehicle demand-incentive scheme through 2026; MoP guidelines continue to refine de-licensed operation; state policies are harmonising around common connector types and tariff structures. For CPOs and commercial fleet operators, 2026 is a strong window — subsidies remain substantial, site acquisition is easier, and EV adoption is accelerating demand.