Following recommendations made by the Mashelkar Committee, the Indian government has announced that all new vehicles purchased in the country's 11 major polluting cities will have to conform to Euro-III emission norms from the 1st April 2005.

From April 1st 2010, all new vehicles will be expected to conform to Euro-IV norms, reflecting India's burgeoning commitment to implementing a clean transport infrastructure and public transport system across the country.

Currently, the top eleven cities, which include Delhi, conform to Euro-II vehicular norms, while the remaining cities across India will be brought in to conform to Euro-II norms from April 1st 2005 and Euro-III from April 2010.

Pollution from cars and other road vehicles is a major problem in India, with the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute claiming that a study it carried out shows that lung functioning of a majority of its population is impaired due to polluted air.

The news adds another major automotive market to the drive towards cleaner emissions, following on from the European, American and Asian examples.

Euro Stage II standards were introduced to Beijing and Shanghai in January and March last year respectively, while in Europe potential Euro V emission standards for light duty vehicles are currently in negotiation.