After 48 years, India revises piston ring standards to curb carbon emissions

New Delhi: The Centre has issued an order that updates norms for piston rings – a key component of internal combustion engines (ICE) – to help reduce carbon emissions, replacing standards that had been in place since 1977. The new standards came into effect on 10 February, said the order dated 12 February.Experts said the cost impact for most automakers was likely to be limited, as many already follow similar global specifications.

However, smaller component manufacturers may need to upgrade materials and testing processes to comply with the new norms, they said.Piston rings help reduce emissions by ensuring fuel burns cleaner and more efficiently, so these updated specifications by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are a significant development for the world's third-largest automobile market. These rings have an important role to play in controlling the amount of lubricating oil on the cylinder wall, ensuring that excess oil is scraped back into the crankcase while maintaining enough lubrication for smooth engine operation.

The transport sector accounts for around 14% of India’s GHG and particulate matter emissions.The updated standards incorporate revised dimensional tolerances, material requirements and testing procedures, and are part of the government’s plan to bring conventional ICE vehicles at par with global manufacturing standards, said a government official who did not wish to be named. They added that the need for new standards stems from significant developments in engine design, materials science, stricter emission norms, and higher fuel-efficiency requirements.The revised specifications are also aligned with internationally accepted engineering and quality benchmarks, and will make Indian automotive