India is making strong progress in transforming its transport sector through electric mobility. Over the last 15 years, India has witnessed over 310 million vehicle registrations, with road transport being responsible for over 92% of the transport sector’s carbon dioxide emissions. With urban air pollution accounting for 20–30% of harmful emissions in Indian cities, a cleaner alternative was needed. Electric vehicles (EVs) are now seen as a critical part of India’s clean energy future. They are helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower air pollution, and contribute to national climate targets. India aims to cut emissions intensity by 45% and achieve 50% electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and net-zero by 2070.
The central government has introduced several schemes, such as FAME, PM e-DRIVE, and production-linked incentives to promote EVs and battery manufacturing. Meanwhile, state governments are playing an increasingly important role in implementing these policies. As of June 1, 2025, 29 states and union territories had notified their EV policies, while four more had draft versions under review. These policies focus on demand creation, charging infrastructure, manufacturing support, and innovation.
The India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2024, developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with WRI India, assesses the performance of 28 states and 8 union territories across three key themes: Transport Electrification Progress, Charging Infrastructure Readiness, and EV Research & Innovation Status. It tracks 16 indicators and categorizes states as Frontrunners, Performers, or Aspirants based on their readiness and progress.
Delhi, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh emerged as the top three performing states in the IEMI score. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana were labeled as Performers, while the remaining states were placed in the Aspirants category, indicating the need for more focused interventions. The Transport Electrification Progress theme, which carries the highest weight in the index, measures the extent of private and commercial EV adoption and the strength of governance, incentives, and support systems. Chandigarh, Delhi, and Maharashtra scored the highest in this category.
In terms of Charging Infrastructure Readiness, Haryana, Karnataka, and Ladakh led the way. These states showed higher availability of public EV chargers, supportive policies, and integration of renewable energy. However, the density and accessibility of charging stations still vary widely across the country.
For EV Research and Innovation Status, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra were the top performers. These states have more EV-related startups, patents, and government initiatives for R&D and skill development in the EV sector.
The report also highlights structural challenges such as high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, import dependence on lithium-ion batteries, and the need for local manufacturing and recycling systems. Despite these, the momentum for EV adoption is strong, supported by both national and state-level actions, and with continued collaboration, India is poised to lead the global e-mobility transition.
