New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has defended its decision to include petrol-powered vehicles in a recent procurement tender, stating that most of its current fleet comprises electric, CNG, or hybrid vehicles. The clarification was issued in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday by Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh.
The statement comes in the wake of criticism over a May 2025 tender that appeared to favor petrol cars despite rising concerns over air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Flexibility to Hire E-Vehicles Included in Tender
Responding to queries from Members of Parliament, Singh said the tender documents in question are compliant with existing government procurement norms and include provisions allowing flexibility in the hiring of electric vehicles (EVs).
“In the recent past, the ministry has procured only four vehicles, all of hybrid category, through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in accordance with instructions issued by the Department of Expenditure,” Singh noted.
He added that the bid documents allow the hiring of e-vehicles within the sanctioned vehicle strength, suggesting that the tender was not exclusively limited to petrol variants.
Background: Controversy Over Petrol-Heavy Tender
The Environment Ministry faced flak after media reports in May revealed that it had floated a tender for 60 new vehicles in Delhi. Out of these, 57 were petrol-powered, and only three were cleaner-fuel alternatives – two Toyota Hycross hybrids and one Tata Nexon EV.
The move sparked concern among environmental advocates and policymakers, especially because the tender came just days after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had issued an advisory (on May 2, 2025) directing all government departments in NCR to procure only electric, hybrid, or CNG-fueled vehicles to combat rising pollution levels.
The estimated value of the tender was pegged at ₹8.4 crore, making it a significant procurement exercise.
Majority of Fleet Now Green: Govt Claims
To counter the criticism, Singh highlighted that the ministry has also been actively hiring electric vehicles through Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a PSU joint venture under the Ministry of Power. He assured Parliament that the majority of the ministry’s hired vehicles are now either electric, CNG, or hybrid.
This statement aligns with the government’s larger push for e-mobility under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme and its ‘Net Zero by 2070’ climate commitments.
