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India's EV sales grew about 46 times between 2016 and 2025 - from roughly 50,000 units to 2.3 million - outpacing global growth of about 20 times over a comparable period.
EV adoption rose from 0.08 per cent in FY 2015-16 to 8.26 per cent in FY 2025-26, with registrations growing at a CAGR of over 62 per cent.
EV exports rose from USD 1.2 million in 2020 to USD 84 million in 2024, with Nepal, Indonesia and Japan the top destinations.
India had 52,718 public charging stations as of July 2026, of which 16,561 offer fast charging, per Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.
NITI Aayog launched the India Electric Mobility Index in August 2025, ranking States on 16 indicators across three pillars; Delhi, Maharashtra and Chandigarh emerged as Frontrunners.
An electric vehicle is powered by an electric motor drawing energy stored in a battery that can be recharged from an external source. The classification into four types turns on where the energy comes from and whether an internal combustion engine is also present. A Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) is fully electric with no engine at all. A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) combines an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, but its battery is charged only by the engine and by regenerative braking - it cannot be plugged in. A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is the same combination but with an externally rechargeable battery pack, giving it extended electric-only running. A Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) generates electricity onboard from chemical energy, typically by combining hydrogen with oxygen, with water as the only tailpipe emission. The distinction that gets tested most often is HEV versus PHEV - the plug is the difference - and the fact that only BEVs and FCEVs have no tailpipe emissions at all.
Simple Analogy: A hybrid carries its own generator; a plug-in hybrid can also be filled from the wall; a battery EV has only the wall; a fuel cell EV makes its own electricity as it goes.
Strategic roadmap to accelerate adoption and domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles, with the twin aims of energy security and clean mobility.
Key: The framework document, launched in 2015, under which FAME was created.
Drive EV adoption through demand incentives to buyers, support for charging infrastructure and support for manufacturing.
Key: Launched in 2015 under NEMMP 2020. Phase I ran to March 2019; Phase II was rolled out in 2019 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, later raised to Rs 11,500 crore, and ran until April 2024.
Succeed FAME II as the principal demand-incentive scheme for electric mobility.
Key: Approved by the Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore, implemented from 1 October 2024 under the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Built on three components - demand incentives, grants for capital asset creation, and administrative support - covering e-2Ws, e-3Ws including e-rickshaws and e-carts, e-ambulances, e-trucks and e-buses.
Incentivise domestic manufacturing of advanced automotive technology products including EV components.
Key: One of the three schemes the Backgrounder credits with building a self-reliant eMobility ecosystem.
Strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity across sectors including electric mobility.
Key: Works alongside PLI and PM E-DRIVE in the eMobility policy stack.
A one-stop information tool on electric mobility that also helps users locate charging stations by location.
Key: Supports consumer-side adoption alongside the physical charging rollout.
A first-of-its-kind framework tracking and comparing States and Union Territories on electric mobility. It evaluates 16 indicators across three pillars - transport electrification, charging infrastructure readiness, and EV research and innovation - and classifies regions as Frontrunners, Performers or Aspirants. Delhi, Maharashtra and Chandigarh emerged as Frontrunners.
The Government's policy think tank, which launched the IEMI.
Administers PM E-DRIVE and, earlier, the FAME India scheme.
Public sector engineering enterprise; the source of the public charging station data cited here.
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 and the FAME India scheme launched
FAME Phase I concludes
FAME Phase II rolled out with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, later raised to Rs 11,500 crore
Post-COVID turning point - EV adoption enters accelerated growth, shifting from e-rickshaw dominance towards electric two-wheelers
FAME Phase II concludes
Union Cabinet approves PM E-DRIVE with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore; implementation from 1 October 2024
NITI Aayog launches the India Electric Mobility Index; Suzuki's Made-in-India e VITARA inaugurated as its first global strategic BEV
EV sales reach 2.3 million units; Uttar Pradesh becomes the largest State market
GS Paper 3 > Infrastructure: Energy; Environment: Climate Change Mitigation; Economy: Industrial Policy and Indigenisation
General Awareness > Government Schemes and Environment
General Awareness > Economy and Government Schemes
General Awareness > Current Affairs and Technology
Electric mobility schemes, NITI Aayog indices and emission-reduction policy appear every year in UPSC Prelims and Mains, and scheme outlays are standard SSC and Banking material.
PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement - the Rs 10,900 crore successor to FAME II, approved 11 September 2024, under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles - launched 2015 under NEMMP 2020; Phase II ran 2019 to April 2024.
National Electric Mobility Mission Plan - the 2015 roadmap for EV adoption and domestic manufacturing.
NITI Aayog's State-ranking framework launched August 2025, using 16 indicators across three pillars, classifying regions as Frontrunners, Performers or Aspirants.
Battery EV (fully electric); Hybrid EV (engine plus motor, not plug-in); Plug-in Hybrid EV (externally rechargeable); Fuel Cell EV (electricity generated onboard from chemical energy).
The Government's one-stop electric mobility portal, which also helps locate charging stations.
Suzuki's first global strategic Battery EV, Made in India, inaugurated August 2025 and intended for export to over 100 countries.