New Delhi: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified the country’s first testing standard for electric agricultural tractors, marking a policy push towards cleaner farm mechanisation. The standard, IS 19262:2025 titled Electric Agricultural Tractors – Test Code, was released by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on December 24 at Bharat Mandapam on the occasion of National Consumer Day.
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Developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the new code establishes uniform testing protocols to assess the safety, reliability and performance of electric tractors.
It lays down procedures for testing power take-off (PTO), drawbar power, belt and pulley performance, vibration measurement, and inspection of components and assemblies. The framework draws upon existing standards for conventional diesel tractors and electric vehicles, suitably adapted for agricultural applications.
“The implementation of this standard through authorised testing institutes would facilitate wider adoption of electric agricultural tractors, promote innovation in clean technologies, and contribute to reduced emissions,” an official statement said.
Electric tractors, which run on battery packs instead of diesel engines, are seen as offering lower operating costs, reduced emissions and lower noise levels. With fewer moving parts, they are also expected to require less maintenance, deliver improved energy efficiency and eliminate tailpipe emissions at the farm level.
The standard was formulated following a request from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Mechanisation and Technology Division, with inputs from tractor manufacturers, testing agencies, research institutions and technical experts.
Contributing institutions included the ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, the Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, the Tractor and Mechanisation Association, and the Automotive Research Association of India.
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While the standard is voluntary, it provides a scientific basis for evaluating the performance and safety characteristics of electric tractors. It is expected to support the development of future acceptance criteria and conformity assessment schemes, while also giving farmers greater confidence in the performance and capabilities of electric tractors as adoption expands.