Selfies in exchange for subsidies? The Government wants to make its mark on discounts for electric vehicles

New Delhi: Electric vehicle buyers in India may soon receive a personal reminder of the government’s role in making their green transition affordable.

Under the third phase of its flagship EV demand incentive scheme, the government plans to offer digital certificates to customers and could even encourage them to take selfies with their vouchers at showrooms.

Digital certificates, highlighting the central government’s contribution to reducing initial expenditure Cost of electric vehicleswill be issued by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the nodal ministry for the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme.

These certificates will feature the Indian government logo, the subsidy amount and a QR code linking to information about the FAME scheme and the customer’s role in reducing the country’s carbon emissions, two people with direct knowledge of the plans told Xinhua. Mint on condition of anonymity.

“Many customers do not realise that the discount portion (on their EV purchase) comes directly from the government,” said one of the people cited above. “The discounted amount will also be visible on the bill, as is the current practice, and customers will know exactly how much support the government is offering them,” he added.

Dealers will issue a digital coupon to the buyer, which will act as a certificate recognizing the government’s contribution to the purchase of the electric vehicle.

To add an interactive touch, customers will be encouraged to take selfies with their coupons in special photo booths in the showrooms.

Dealers will upload these selfies, along with the coupons, to the FAME portal, creating a digital record that allows OEMs to validate the sale and claim the government subsidy. “The coupon will act as a visible reminder that the government is directly supporting EV buyers,” the source added.

“There is also a feeling in government that OEMs could have gone a bit further and lowered ex-showroom transaction prices,” the second person said.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries did not respond to Mint Request for comments on the story by press time.

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The upcoming FAME-III programme, which could be renamed in its third edition, is a cornerstone of the government’s push towards electric mobility. It provides buyers with a cash subsidy in the form of a reduced vehicle price at the point of purchase. While the previous phases have spurred growth in the EV market, this new phase aims to make the government’s contribution more apparent to consumers.

This approach mirrors other government schemes such as PM Kusum and PM Sugam, where digital certificates have been used to map beneficiaries and highlight government involvement.

Discussions have been held with stakeholders, including car manufacturers and dealers, to ensure that the new system is practical and efficient. “A discussion on the selfie and voucher process was held yesterday itself, and the proposal will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) soon,” the source said.

Continuous support

Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy confirmed that the government hopes to finalise the third phase of the FAME scheme in the next few months. He said an inter-ministerial group is currently reviewing feedback and addressing issues from the earlier phases of the scheme.

Meanwhile, the ₹The Rs 700 crore e-mobility promotion scheme, which bridges the gap between the expired FAME-II scheme and the upcoming incentive programme, will remain valid till the end of September, ensuring continued support for the transition to electric vehicles.

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