An electric scooter is the single most popular way Indians go electric, and the central subsidy is one reason why. But in 2026 the numbers are smaller than they were at launch, and the clock is ticking on the scheme itself. This guide explains exactly how much you can claim under PM E-Drive, how state top-ups stack on it, and — most importantly — the near-term deadline you cannot afford to miss. For the full incentive landscape across vehicle types, see our EV subsidies & incentives guide.
The central incentive: ₹2,500 per kWh, capped at ₹5,000
Under PM E-Drive the electric two-wheeler incentive is ₹2,500 per kWh of battery capacity, with a hard cap of ₹5,000 per vehicle. There is also a third limit: the incentive cannot exceed 15% of the ex-factory price. In practice you get the lowest of these three. This Year-2 rate took effect on 1 April 2025, down from ₹5,000/kWh in Year 1 — so the central benefit on a scooter has roughly halved at the per-kWh level, though the ₹5,000 cap means many buyers see less change than that maths suggests.
Only e-2Ws fitted with advanced batteries qualify, and the scheme targets around 24.79 lakh electric two-wheelers overall. Eligibility is decided at variant level on the PM E-Drive portal, so confirm your exact model is listed before booking.
Example: what you actually get by battery size
Because the cap is ₹5,000, most mainstream scooters land at exactly that figure. Here is how the maths plays out on common battery sizes (assuming ex-factory price is high enough that the 15% limit does not bite):
| Battery size | ₹2,500 × kWh | Incentive after ₹5,000 cap |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kWh | ₹6,250 | ₹5,000 (capped) |
| 3.0 kWh | ₹7,500 | ₹5,000 (capped) |
| 3.7 kWh | ₹9,250 | ₹5,000 (capped) |
The takeaway: for any scooter of about 2 kWh or larger, the central benefit is effectively a flat ₹5,000. The per-kWh rate only matters for very small batteries, where 15% of the ex-factory price can pull the number below ₹5,000.
How you claim it (spoiler: you barely do)
You do not file a separate application. The dealer runs your Aadhaar e-KYC, the portal issues an Aadhaar-authenticated e-voucher, you sign it by SMS, and the ₹5,000 is already deducted from your invoice — one vehicle per Aadhaar. The full process is in our step-by-step guide to claiming an EV subsidy.
State top-ups: where they still exist
Where a state scheme is active, its incentive generally stacks on top of the central ₹5,000. But this is exactly where buyers get caught out, because several state schemes have lapsed or were never notified. Here is the honest 2026 position:
| State | Two-wheeler benefit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | ~₹10,000 per e-2W + 100% road-tax & registration waiver | Active (one of the more reliable states) |
| Delhi | Draft EV Policy 2.0 proposes ₹10,000/kWh (cap ₹30,000) + ₹10,000 scrappage | DRAFT only — not notified as law |
| Gujarat | Old ₹10,000/kWh (up to ₹20,000) two-wheeler subsidy | Discontinued — no longer available |
Read those status notes carefully. Delhi's generous figures are from a draft policy that has not been notified as of mid-2026 — treat them as a proposal, not money in hand. And Gujarat's old two-wheeler subsidy is discontinued, so do not assume it still applies. Maharashtra remains genuinely worth having. For the broader map of which states deliver real savings, see our state-by-state subsidy and road-tax guide.
Putting it together
In a state like Maharashtra, a typical 3 kWh e-scooter could see the central ₹5,000 plus roughly ₹10,000 from the state, plus road-tax and registration waivers — a meaningful cut on the on-road price. In a state with no active two-wheeler subsidy, you are essentially looking at the central ₹5,000 alone. Either way, the central portion disappears for scooters registered after 31 July 2026, so timing matters.
Browse eligible models in the electric scooter catalog, and once you have a price in mind, run the numbers through the EV EMI calculator to see your real monthly cost. Because rates, caps and state schemes change frequently, always confirm the current figures on the official PM E-Drive portal and your state transport department portal before you commit.