The Center has released national test Standard for electric agricultural tractors for the first time developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards. This will ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of electric agricultural tractors through uniform and standardized testing protocols.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution,Pralhad Joshi, released IS 19262: 2025 ‘Electric Agricultural Tractors — Test Code’ which is voluntary for now.
“The implementation of IS 19262: 2025 through authorized testing institutes would facilitate wider adoption of electric agricultural tractors in the country, promote innovation in clean agricultural technologies, and contribute to reduced emissions and sustainable agricultural mechanisation,” the Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
It establishes a common understanding among all stakeholders with respect to uniform terminology, general guidelines, and tests to be carried out on electric agricultural tractors on various parameters.
Electric agricultural tractors represent an emerging segment in India’s farm mechanization ecosystem.These tractors offer a sustainable alternative to traditional diesel-powered tractors, with benefits including reduced emissions, lower operating costs, and improved operational performance.
Electric tractor help reduce air pollution and the carbon footprint of agricultural operations and provide a healthier working environment for farmers with significantly lower noise and no exposure to exhaust fumes.
“As the adoption of electric agricultural tractors grows in the country, the absence of dedicated and harmonized testing procedures posed challenges in assessing their performance, safety, and reliability in a consistent manner,”it noted
BIS developed as a priority in response to this requirement and the request of the Mechanization & Technology Division, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare collaborating with key stakeholders, including electric tractor manufacturers, testing and certification agencies, research and academic institutions, and technical experts.
Representatives from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering,Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Budni, Tractor and Mechanization Association, Automotive Research Association of India, All India Farmers Alliance, contributed significantly during the standard development process
“The notification of this standard, which is voluntary, marks an important step towards strengthening India’s standardization framework for emerging technologies in the agriculture sector, while aligning domestic practices with evolving international trends in electric mobility and farm mechanisation,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry also announced that
National Test House (NTH), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Materials and Stores Research & Development Establishment (DMSRDE), a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
The MoU aims to facilitate collaborative research and testing activities, sharing of laboratory and instrumentation facilities, exchange of scientific and technical expertise among others.
Published on December 28, 2025