In a bid to promote electric vehicles in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has allowed government departments in the state to buy electric vehicles (EVs) on the basis of nomination without tender.

If all goes as anticipated, Uttar Pradesh might be the first Indian state to deploy 100 percent electric vehicles in all government departments.

The Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022 was notified by the government on October 14. This policy provides an exemption from tax and registration fees for three years on buying electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the exemption would be valid for five years on the purchase of electric vehicles manufactured in the state.

As EVs are more expensive than conventional vehicles, relaxation has been provided by the government on the upper maximum expenditure limit on the purchase of vehicles.

Till now, the government vehicles were procured through tenders on the GeM portal, however, many EV firms are not registered on the portal. Hence, the government’s decision to allow departments to buy electric vehicles (EVs) on the basis of nomination without tender seems fair.