Odisha Mandates Electric Vehicles for Government Use

Odisha made the purchase of electric vehicles mandatory for new two-wheelers and four-wheelers used by the state government from 1 June 2026. The directive also applies to four-wheelers hired for official government work from the same date.

Electric Vehicle Procurement Rules

The state order was issued on 21 May 2026 by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as part of an eight-point plan. Petrol and diesel vehicles can be purchased only under special circumstances or specific requirements.

Fuel Use and Official Transport

Senior officers allotted official vehicles in Odisha must carpool, and fuel allocation for such vehicles will be reduced by half. All government departments in Odisha have been directed to ensure at least a 10% reduction in monthly fuel consumption for government vehicles.

Administrative Guidelines and Public Sector Measures

The Odisha Finance Department will issue guidelines within 15 days to identify categories of officers eligible for government vehicles. The department will also frame rules for the use of privately owned electric vehicles for official purposes.

Important Facts for Exams

• Electric vehicles are powered by one or more electric motors and use electricity stored in rechargeable batteries.
• Two-wheelers and four-wheelers are the most common vehicle categories used in government fleets in India.
• Publicly owned banks, insurers, and financial institutions in India have also received directions to replace petrol and diesel vehicles with electric alternatives.
• Fuel consumption reduction targets are often used in government transport policies to control operating costs.

Central Government Directive

The central government issued a separate directive around 19 May 2026 for publicly owned banks, insurers, and financial institutions. The directive asked them to reduce operational spending and begin replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric alternatives.