The Ministry of Heavy Industries has set aside ₹2,000 crore nationwide, not state-wise, for electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS) under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, and Assam hasn't submitted a proposal to draw on this funding yet. As of July 22, 2026, Assam has sold 42,035 electric vehicles under the scheme, including 8,003 in Cachar district alone, with ₹99.10 crore reimbursed to manufacturers for 40,009 incentivised EVs. PM E-DRIVE runs on a ₹10,900 crore outlay from April 1, 2024, targeting incentives for roughly 28.30 lakh EVs and the deployment of 14,028 e-buses across seven major cities.
The Central Government is continuing its push to expand India's electric vehicle ecosystem through the PM E-DRIVE scheme, which includes financial support for EV adoption as well as public charging infrastructure. In a recent reply in Parliament, the Ministry of Heavy Industries clarified how the ₹2,000 crore charging infrastructure fund will be allocated. The Ministry of Heavy Industries disclosed these figures in a written reply in Parliament on August 4, 2026, responding to a question on EV charging infrastructure funding for Assam and Cachar district specifically.
The ₹2,000 Crore Charging Infrastructure Fund
The reply clarified that the ₹2,000 crore earmarked for EV charging stations applies across India as a single pool, with no fixed state-wise breakup. Assam remains eligible to apply, but as of this reply, the state government hadn't submitted a proposal to set up EVPCS under the scheme. The Ministry also confirmed it hasn't carried out any separate assessment specific to Cachar district for this funding.
Assam's EV Adoption Numbers
The reply broke down Assam's progress under PM E-DRIVE in concrete terms:
| Metric | Figure (as of 22 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Total EVs sold in Assam | 42,035 |
| EVs sold in Cachar district | 8,003 |
| EVs that received incentive payouts | 40,009 |
| Total reimbursement to manufacturers | ₹99.10 crore |
What PM E-DRIVE Scheme Covers
The PM Electric Drive Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme has been in effect since April 1, 2024, with a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore. It offers incentives on roughly 28.30 lakh electric vehicles, spanning e-2-wheelers, e-3-wheelers, e-trucks, e-buses, and e-ambulances. Separately, ₹4,391 crore has been allocated for deploying 14,028 e-buses, with 13,800 of them going to seven cities with populations above four million: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Surat. Another 200 e-buses have been approved for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Other Central EV Schemes Cited in the Reply
| Scheme | Period / Notified | Outlay |
|---|---|---|
| FAME India Phase-II | 1 Apr 2019 to 31 Mar 2024 | ₹11,500 crore |
| PLI Scheme for Auto and Auto Components | Notified 23 Sep 2021 | ₹25,938 crore |
| PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage | Notified 9 Jun 2021 | ₹18,100 crore |
| PM E-DRIVE | Effective 1 Apr 2024 | ₹10,900 crore |
| PM e-Bus Sewa – Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) | Notified 28 Oct 2024 | ₹3,435.33 crore |
FAME-II alone is credited with pushing sales of nearly 16.72 lakh electric vehicles across the e-2W, e-3W, and e-4W categories, and 5,297 e-buses had been deployed under it as of June 30, 2026. The scheme also set aside ₹912.50 crore specifically for EV public charging infrastructure nationwide.
Additional Incentives Mentioned
Alongside the funded schemes, the government pointed to three supporting measures already in place to bring down EV ownership costs:
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Reduced GST on EVs
GST on electric vehicles, and on chargers and charging stations for EVs, has been reduced to 5%.
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Green licence plates and permit exemption
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced that battery-operated vehicles will get green licence plates and be exempted from the requirement of holding a permit.
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Road tax waiver advisory
MoRTH has advised states to waive road tax on electric vehicles, aimed at lowering the upfront cost of buying one.
Note: The written reply didn't specify a timeline for when Assam might submit its EVPCS proposal, and the Ministry's response leaves that step with the state government.
Source: Ministry of Heavy Industries (PIB)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM E-DRIVE scheme?
The PM Electric Drive Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme is a Central Government initiative launched on April 1, 2024, with a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore. It provides incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, trucks, buses, ambulances, and supports the development of EV charging infrastructure across India.
Is the ₹2,000 crore charging infrastructure fund allocated to each state?
No. The ₹2,000 crore allocation is a nationwide fund for setting up public EV charging stations under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. States must submit proposals to access funding, and there is no fixed state-wise allocation.
Has Assam received funding for EV public charging stations under PM E-DRIVE?
As of the Ministry's reply in Parliament on August 4, 2026, Assam has not submitted a proposal for EV public charging stations under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. As a result, no funding has been allocated to the state from the ₹2,000 crore charging infrastructure pool.
How many electric vehicles have been sold in Assam under PM E-DRIVE?
As of July 22, 2026, Assam recorded sales of 42,035 electric vehicles under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. Out of these, 40,009 eligible EVs received incentives, with manufacturers reimbursed ₹99.10 crore.
What incentives are available for electric vehicle buyers in India?
In addition to purchase incentives under schemes such as PM E-DRIVE, the Central Government has reduced GST on electric vehicles and EV chargers to 5%, introduced green registration plates for battery-operated vehicles, exempted them from permit requirements, and advised states to waive road tax to encourage EV adoption.
