Ref: Nation-wide call of PM to save energy.
Sanjeev Goyal
PMOPG/E/2026/0081629
Ref: Nation-wide call of PM to save energy.
Grievance: Apparent administrative contradictions.
Concerned Office: PMO
Car-Pooling and Need for Reform in the Motor Vehicles Framework
It is widely acknowledged that many Indian cities are facing severe challenges of air pollution, traffic congestion, and acute parking shortages. A significant contributor to these problems is the rapidly increasing number of private vehicles on the roads. During peak hours, a substantial portion of road space is occupied by private cars carrying only a single passenger. From the perspective of road-space utilisation per passenger, private cars are among the least efficient modes of urban transport. In addition, both private cars and taxis place considerable pressure on already limited parking infrastructure.
Any development undertaken in the name of convenience loses its relevance if it simultaneously deprives society of clean air, a healthy environment, and sustainable urban living conditions. Therefore, measures aimed at reducing vehicular congestion and pollution deserve serious policy attention.
In this context, Governments and policy makers frequently emphasize the importance of car-pooling as a means to reduce pollution, fuel consumption, congestion, and transportation costs. However, the existing legal framework under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 does not appear to be fully aligned with present-day urban mobility requirements. At present, a private vehicle cannot ordinarily be used for carrying passengers for “hire or reward,” except under the framework applicable to contract carriage or commercial transport vehicles. Consequently, large-scale organised paid car-pooling by private vehicle owners remains legally constrained.
Informal or purely friendly car-pooling arrangements alone may not be sufficient to create a meaningful impact at scale. It is therefore felt that the current legal distinction between private and commercial usage of cars has become a significant obstacle in promoting broader adoption of shared mobility solutions. In several countries, private vehicles are permitted to be used flexibly for both personal and commercial ride-sharing purposes, subject to appropriate regulatory safeguards.
Allowing limited commercial use of private cars for regulated ride-sharing and car-pooling could potentially become a major transport reform in India. Such a measure may unlock substantial unused transport capacity already available in society and could help reduce the overall number of vehicles required on roads.
In many countries, app-based aggregators facilitate participation of private individuals who use their personal vehicles to provide transport services during spare time. A carefully designed amendment in the law, accompanied by suitable safeguards relating to taxation, insurance, passenger safety, and licensing, could generate multiple public benefits, including:
- Reduction in Congestion and Pollution:
Greater use of shared rides would improve passenger-to-vehicle ratios, reduce the number of vehicles on roads, and lower emissions and fuel consumption. - Better Utilisation of Existing Vehicles:
Many urban households possess two or more cars that remain underutilised for most of the day. Permitting regulated ride-sharing would help unlock the productive use of these idle assets. - Reduction in Demand for Additional Vehicles:
Efficient utilisation of existing cars may reduce the need for purchase of additional vehicles for commercial transport purposes, thereby easing long-term pressure on roads and parking infrastructure. - Employment Generation:
Such a reform could create income opportunities for thousands of skilled drivers who may not possess the financial capacity to purchase commercial vehicles of their own. - No Major Public Expenditure:
Since the infrastructure and vehicles already exist, the reform could potentially deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits without significant additional expenditure by Government.
Accordingly, it may be worthwhile to examine whether the present provisions governing the use of private vehicles require suitable modification in light of evolving urban transport needs and international practices. A balanced regulatory framework permitting controlled and technology-enabled paid car-pooling by private vehicles may contribute significantly towards sustainable and efficient urban mobility in India.
Air-conditioners: Grievance: Regulation of Air-Conditioner Temperature Settings for Energy Conservation
One of the largest sources of electricity consumption in homes and administrative offices is the air-conditioner. In comparison with most other household or office appliances, air-conditioning systems consume significantly higher amounts of power. At the same time, they are also among the most inefficiently and indiscriminately used facilities. Once switched on, air-conditioners often continue running throughout the day irrespective of the actual occupancy of the room, cabin, or office space.
Despite their substantial contribution to electricity consumption, there appears to be limited regulatory oversight regarding their operational usage and temperature settings. In many establishments, these systems are managed by housekeeping or maintenance staff, where the tendency is often to set temperatures at unnecessarily low levels. Scientific understanding and energy studies indicate that every one-degree reduction in temperature setting results in disproportionately higher electricity consumption, even though such excessive cooling is generally unnecessary for human comfort.
Several countries have already recognized this issue and adopted regulatory or policy measures. For example, in Japan, air-conditioners in offices are generally not permitted to operate below 24°C as part of national energy conservation initiatives. In contrast, in India, extremely low temperature settings are still commonly observed in offices, malls, commercial establishments, and even residential premises.
Many users also attempt to compensate for poor airflow or circulation by reducing the temperature setting instead of improving ventilation or air distribution, which further increases power consumption unnecessarily. The growing use of centralized air-conditioning systems has aggravated the situation because their operation is often not proportionately linked with actual occupancy levels.
According to media reports, due to changing lifestyles and rising urban affluence, electricity consumption from air-conditioning systems in India is expected to increase manifold over the coming decades. Such a trend would not only place enormous pressure on the power sector but would also contribute significantly to heat generation, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental degradation.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, through its guidelines dated 25.06.2018, has already recommended maintaining air-conditioner temperature settings at 24°C. The guideline itself notes that every 1°C increase in temperature can reduce electricity consumption by approximately 6%. Accordingly, increasing the temperature setting from 20°C to 24°C could potentially reduce electricity consumption by nearly 24%, resulting in substantial national energy savings.
In view of the seriousness of environmental and energy challenges, it may therefore be appropriate to examine why such recommendations continue to remain advisory in nature instead of being implemented through mandatory standards, at least in Government offices, commercial establishments, malls, hotels, residential units and large institutions.
At a time when environmental protection, energy efficiency, and climate sustainability have become matters of national and global concern, the enforcement of reasonable minimum temperature standards for air-conditioning systems could become a simple yet highly effective reform with significant long-term benefits for society, the economy, and the environment.
