Full Breakdown
India’s Draft Overhaul of Driving Licence Rules
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Proposed Overhaul of India’s Driving Licence System
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has released draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules that would reshape how driving licences are issued and renewed. The proposal introduces separate colour schemes for licences issued to Indian nationals and to foreign nationals, and mandates that every licence be produced as a laminated or polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) card in Form 7.
Key Changes in the Draft Amendments
- Mandatory personal data – The licence must display the holder’s blood group, mobile phone number and emergency-contact numbers.
- Document requirements – Proof of age and residence may be supplied through Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, e-ration card, birth certificate, or life-insurance policy; affidavits sworn before a magistrate or notary would no longer be accepted.
- Driving-assessment standards – The safe-driving tutorial must run for at least 30 minutes, and the qualifying score is proposed to rise from 60 percent to 75 percent.
- Fee structure – Fees for online licence services completed via Aadhaar authentication would be waived, and charges for changing personal details such as name or address would be removed.
- Processing timelines – Licensing authorities would be required to approve or reject applications to change licence particulars within 15 days, providing reasons for any rejection.
Expected Administrative Impact
By standardising licence formats and tightening assessment criteria, the ministry aims to reduce misuse of licences and improve road-safety oversight. The inclusion of contact and blood-group information is intended to aid emergency response, while the streamlined document list seeks to curb fraudulent age-or address-proof submissions. Faster processing of detail-change requests and fee waivers for Aadhaar-based services could lower administrative burdens for both authorities and applicants.
Official Commentary
A senior MoRTH official indicated that the changes are designed to “tighten assessment requirements” and modernise the licensing process. The draft notification also invites objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of its publication, signalling an open-consultation approach before any final rule-making.
Next Steps for Stakeholders
Interested parties—including state transport departments, driving schools, and the public—must submit feedback during the 30-day consultation window. Should the consultation conclude without substantive revisions, the ministry will proceed to formalise the amendments, after which the new licence formats and assessment standards would become enforceable.