When must an e-rickshaw battery maker start collecting waste batteries under India's battery rules, and how much?
The October 2023 amendment moved the start for e-rickshaw and similar three wheeler batteries from 2024-25 to 2026-27. A producer must then collect at least 70% of the batteries it placed on the market in 2021-22, and 70% of 2022-23 the next year. Each seven year cycle also aims at collecting and recycling all waste battery.
The table from October 2023
This covers batteries of three wheelers including e-rickshaw, categories L5, L5-M, L5-N and e-cart as defined in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
- 2026-27: at least 70% of the quantity placed on the market in 2021-22.
- 2027-28 to 2032-33: 70% each year, of 2022-23 through 2027-28 in turn.
- 2033-34 onwards: 70% of the quantity placed on the market in the fifth preceding financial year, which is 2028-29 for 2033-34.
- By the end of each seven year cycle: collect 100% of waste battery and recycle or refurbish 100% of it, against the batteries placed on the market in that cycle.
What the 2022 table said
The 2022 rules started in 2024-25 with 70% of the 2021-22 quantity, ran to 2030-31, and from 2031-32 used the third preceding financial year, 2028-29. The amendment moved the start two years later, to 2026-27, and the later years follow the new cycle.
Carry forward
As described for the March 2024 amendment (I could not read it in the gazette), the carry-forward wording for these tables is: up to 60% of the remaining quantity of battery placed in the market during the applicable compliance cycle may be carried forward to the next compliance cycle.
How you meet it
You meet the obligation through extended producer responsibility (EPR) certificates that recyclers or refurbishers make available. The rules say that if certificates are not available with them, the producer is responsible for collection as well. Certificates from a recycler are valid for seven years for meeting a producer's obligation.
A maker with 2,000 tonnes placed in 2021-22 and 2,400 in 2022-23, example
- 2026-27: 70% x 2,000 = 1,400 tonnes to collect
- 2027-28: 70% x 2,400 = 1,680 tonnes to collect
- Under the 2022 table the 1,400 tonnes would have been due two years earlier, in 2024-25
The tonnages are examples. The 70% and the base years are the rule's own.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads fuel invoices and electricity bills into records, so the diesel and power your plant uses are on file. These rules are filed on government portals, outside Senseible's records.
- Battery waste rules and carbon data
- Lead acid battery recycling emissions per tonne
- Lead acid battery carbon footprint per unit
- Do imported waste batteries earn certificates?
Sources: MoEFCC, Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 (Schedule II) and amendments of 2023 and 2024
Last reviewed 2026-11-05. The 60% carry forward, the seven year cycle text and the 2023 table are as described in the amendment notices and were not read line by line. Check the consolidated Schedule II for your battery type; two wheelers, four wheelers, portable, automotive and industrial batteries have their own tables.