The Bureau of Indian Standards has introduced comprehensive testing standards for electric agricultural tractors, marking a significant step toward standardizing safety and performance measures for this emerging technology. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, released the new Indian Standard titled 'Electric Agricultural Tractors — Test Code' on National Consumer Day at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

New Testing Framework for Electric Tractors

The Bureau of Indian Standards developed this standard to establish uniform testing procedures for electric agricultural tractors, which use electric motors powered by battery packs instead of traditional diesel engines. These vehicles support both propulsion and field operations while eliminating tailpipe emissions at farms and reducing exposure to exhaust fumes.

Electric agricultural tractors offer several advantages over conventional diesel-powered models:

• Lower noise levels during operation
• Fewer moving parts, reducing maintenance and operating costs
• Reduced diesel consumption and associated natural resource usage
• Zero tailpipe emissions at the point of use

Industry Collaboration and Development Process

The Mechanisation & Technology Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare requested priority work on these standards as the number of electric agricultural tractors grows. The lack of dedicated testing systems had created difficulty in measuring safety, reliability and performance of these vehicles.

The drafting process involved extensive collaboration with key stakeholders:

Technical Specifications and Testing Procedures

The test code provides comprehensive guidelines including common terminology, general guidelines and defined tests. The standard covers multiple testing aspects essential for electric tractor evaluation:

Core Testing Components

• PTO power testing procedures
• Drawbar power testing methods
• Testing protocols for belts and pulleys
• Vibration measurement procedures
• Specification verification processes
• Inspection protocols for assemblies and components

The standard incorporates technical inputs from IS 5994:2022 and relevant Automotive Industry Standards for electric vehicles, adapted specifically for agricultural applications.

Implementation and Industry Impact

Implementation through approved testing institutes is expected to support wider deployment of electric tractors across India. The testing framework aims to encourage innovation in electric farm machinery while helping reduce emissions from agricultural mechanisation.

Test results produced under these procedures will create a scientific basis for assessing performance and safety, supporting future acceptance criteria and conformity assessment systems specific to electric tractors. The standard is designed to help manufacturers deliver safe machines while providing farmers greater confidence in product capability.

Tractor Sector Outlook Improves

Separately, credit rating agency ICRA has revised its outlook for the tractor sector, reflecting positive market conditions. The agency now expects wholesale volume growth as follows:

ICRA attributed the improved outlook to several factors, including the reduction of GST on tractors to 5.00%, which lowered prices by approximately ₹40,000.00 to ₹1,00,000.00 depending on horsepower. The agency also cited favorable conditions from the Southwest Monsoon, which recorded rainfall at 108.00% of the long-term average, and expects advance purchases ahead of the TREM V emission transition.

The notification of the new test code is voluntary and represents progress in India's standard-setting approach for new agricultural technologies, aligning practices with global developments in electric mobility and farm mechanisation.