Karnataka: Pralhad Joshi fears taxes on EVs will derail India’s emission targets
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Friday cautioned that Karnataka’s move to withdraw road tax exemptions for electric vehicles (EVs) could raise India’s crude import bill, encourage a shift back to fossil-fuel vehicles and derail climate targets.
In a video message posted on X, Joshi said the state government’s decision—aimed at mopping up about Rs 250 crore—was “insignificant” relative to Karnataka’s Rs 3.5 lakh crore budget, but could have disproportionate economic and environmental consequences. He argued that the policy reversal comes at a time when countries globally are incentivising clean mobility to cut emissions.
