Which DG Sets Need RECD? A Guide by Age, Capacity and State

Which DG sets need RECD? There is no single national answer, because the rule that applies to your generator depends on three things: how big it is, how old it is and where it is installed. Central bodies such as CPCB and CAQM set the technical standard for a retrofit emission control device (RECD), but it is state pollution control boards that decide which in-use diesel gensets must fit one, and by when. This guide explains the logic first and then walks through Maharashtra, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The three tests every DG set has to pass

Capacity is the first test. RECD certification in India covers in-use diesel gensets up to 800 kW gross mechanical power, which is 1,000 kVA. Boards quote kW while generators are sold in kVA, so convert using kW = kVA x 0.8. A 125 kVA set is about 100 kW, a 250 kVA set about 200 kW and a 62.5 kVA set about 50 kW. Always use the figure on the nameplate.

Age is the second test. Several state circulars target sets that have completed five years from the date of manufacture, and some also refer to a useful-life ceiling beyond which a retrofit is no longer the expected route. If your set is newer than the cut-off, or already meets the CPCB IV+ norms notified under GSR 804(E) in November 2022, it is generally treated differently from an older set. CAQM's NCR schedule, for instance, lists new gensets of up to 800 kW procured to the notified standards as their own category.

The third test is engine phase. RECD certificates are issued by kW range and for Phase I or Phase II engines, so the device you choose must match both. The brand of the generator does not change the certificate.

Delhi-NCR and Haryana: capacity decides

In the NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management has framed the rule around capacity and fuel route rather than a five-year age cut-off. Its revised schedule in June 2023 asked mid-sized sets to fit a retrofit device and run on dual fuel. In September 2023, after stakeholders pointed to supply gaps, the commission changed the condition from "and" to "or" for RECD fitment and dual-fuel conversion.

As amended in December 2024, the schedule works roughly like this. Sets from 41 kW to below 800 kW must either run dual-fuel or carry a certified RECD. Sets from 19 kW to below 41 kW need dual-fuel. Sets of 800 kW and above need an emission-control mechanism and must meet stack standards, and portable sets below 19 kW face restrictions during GRAP. Check the current direction before relying on these bands.

The retrofit deadline was 30 September 2023, with emergency-service sets given until 31 December 2023. Enforcement since then has been visible. After a CAQM flying squad found non-complying DG sets in Palwal, the commission ordered sealing and directed the state board to levy environmental compensation. CAQM's later sealing list, dated April 2026, names units across Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Sonipat and Rohtak. For owners in Haryana's NCR districts the question is therefore not whether the rule applies but which band your set falls in.

Maharashtra: five years, up to 800 kW

Maharashtra's rule is the closest to the textbook version. MPCB's circular of 2 June 2023 covers in-use diesel engines up to 800 kW (1,000 kVA) and targets Phase I and Phase II engines that have completed five years from manufacture. The board later extended the time limit, so check its circulars page for the current deadline. The accompanying state order also dealt with sets manufactured before 2004, so owners of very old generators should confirm their status before investing in a retrofit.

Karnataka: from 125 kVA to 61 to 800 kW

Karnataka's position has tightened. The KSPCB notification of May 2023 used a threshold of 125 kVA. Its circular of 19 August 2026 reiterates mandatory retrofitting for DG sets of 61 kW to 800 kW that are more than five years old, subject to useful-life conditions, and asks for a compliance report. Because 61 kW is roughly 76 kVA, many mid-sized commercial and residential sets that fell below the older threshold are now in scope. Sets above 800 kW are asked to fit a suitable air pollution control device instead.

Gujarat: a threshold that is becoming a schedule

GPCB's circular of 26 October 2023 covered industries and establishments running DG sets of 125 kVA and above. A newer circular dated 7 July 2026 asks the state's non-attainment cities, such as Ahmedabad and Surat, to follow the CAQM-style capacity schedule, which reaches smaller sets. Owners in those cities should confirm which capacity band GPCB uses.

Madhya Pradesh and other states still catching up

At the time of writing, we have not found a statewide MPPCB circular that sets an RECD deadline. The direction of travel is still clear. The National Green Tribunal has asked for DG set controls in the action plans of polluted cities, CPCB has a certification procedure in place, and National Clean Air Programme cities in the state, including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Dewas, are where action is most likely first. Other states are issuing circulars of their own, so check your board's website and your consent conditions rather than assuming you are exempt.

How to check your own DG set

Photograph the nameplates of the genset and the engine. Note the kVA and kW rating, the year of manufacture, the engine make and model and the emission phase. Convert to kW, compare it with your state's band and age rule, and then check the CPCB RECD list for a certificate that covers your kW range and phase. If the set is under warranty, ask your OEM for its position in writing. Our guides on RECD fuel use and warranty and on RECD for different DG brands cover those two points in detail.

Snapshot by state

Not sure where your set falls? Novorbis Itus is on the CPCB RECD vendor list (as of 30-06-2026). Share your DG set's kW rating, year of manufacture, and location, and we will confirm whether it needs a retrofit and which device fits.