The Budget provision to cut duty on hybrid cars from 24% to 14% is a step in the right direction to make them more affordable in India, thereby increasing their quicker adoption by people. The hybrid car uses both a combustion engine and an electric motor for propulsion and is an interim stage in the full development of a clean car. This is a step that would bring India in step with advanced economies. It will bring down dependence on depleting fossil fuel reserves and reduce the environmental costs of vehicular emissions. It's also desirable because the growth in vehicular sales is increasingly putting pressure on infrastructure. Besides, the emission load from vehicles is leading to an increase in pollution. What the finance minister has done is to encourage manufacturers to provide a futuristic technology to give Indians access to cars that run on alternative fuels. In fact, this year's auto expo in Delhi displayed a slew of hybrid car options. Hybrid cars will also provide relief to Indians willing or aspiring to adopt another option to cope with rising costs of petrol and almost phasing out of diesel cars . Hybrids are also more fuel efficient. Hybrid engines, however, are still much more expensive, which is limiting their popularisation and growth. In fact, all new things are expensive until they attain a critical mass. We've seen that happen in the case of mobile telephony and mobile handsets. So, such initiatives need support from all quarters. While hybrid technology is more eco-friendly, the initial overall impact