Government Proposes Changes to Driving Licence Rules in India
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed a series of changes to India's driving licence system through draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. One of the main proposals is to introduce separate colour schemes for driving licences issued to Indian nationals and foreign nationals.
The proposed changes are intended to improve document verification, strengthen road safety requirements and simplify selected licence-related services. The draft also covers personal information printed on licences, documents accepted during applications, online processing procedures and the assessment required for learner drivers.
The proposals were published in the Gazette of India in October 2026 and remain subject to the prescribed process for objections and suggestions. Motorists should therefore understand that these changes are not automatically applicable to existing licences. The final implementation details will depend on the government's subsequent notification.
Separate Colour Schemes for Indian and Foreign Nationals
Under the proposed amendments, driving licences issued or renewed by licensing authorities would use separate formats for Indian nationals and foreign nationals. The two formats would have different background colour schemes, and the holder's nationality would be included among the licence details.
The proposal is intended to make it easier to distinguish between licence categories based on nationality. However, the announcement of separate colour schemes does not mean that every existing driving licence must be replaced immediately.
The exact requirements and implementation process will depend on the final rules. Applicants and existing licence holders should wait for official instructions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways or their respective licensing authorities before taking any action.
Additional Personal Details May Appear on Licences
The draft proposes expanding the information recorded on driving licences. The proposed details include the holder's blood group, mobile number and emergency contact information.
Including emergency contact details could help make important information more readily available when needed. Recording additional information would also require applicants to provide accurate details during the application or renewal process.
The draft also proposes recording nationality and expanding the information associated with the licence's machine-readable section. Under the proposed changes, the existing machine-readable zone would be replaced by a QR code-readable zone, with additional data fields specified in the draft.
The exact information that will ultimately appear on the physical card, and how the QR code will be used, should be confirmed from the final notification and official licence specifications.
Safe-Driving Assessment Pass Mark May Increase
Another significant proposal concerns the online safe-driving tutorial assessment. The government has proposed increasing the qualifying score from 60 per cent to 75 per cent.
The draft also proposes making the tutorial at least 30 minutes long and extending the time allowed for completion from seven days to 15 days. These changes are intended to strengthen the assessment requirements and encourage applicants to develop a better understanding of safe driving practices.
If the proposals are adopted, applicants would need to achieve a higher score to pass the assessment. Learner drivers should continue to follow the requirements currently applicable to their applications until the revised rules are officially implemented.
The proposed changes relate to the safe-driving tutorial assessment. Applicants should not assume that every aspect of the practical driving test will change in the same way unless the final rules specifically state so.
Changes to Accepted Identity, Age and Address Documents
The draft also proposes revising the documents accepted as proof of identity, age and address. The proposed lists include documents such as Aadhaar, passports, voter identity cards, e-ration cards, birth certificates, educational certificates and specified government-issued identity documents, depending on the purpose for which proof is required.
Electricity and household gas bills issued within the preceding three months are among the proposed address-proof options. Foreign nationals applying for licences would also need to provide evidence of their legal presence in India, along with the relevant address documentation.
The government has proposed removing the option of using affidavits sworn before an executive magistrate, judicial magistrate or notary as proof of age and address. Life insurance policies are also proposed to be excluded from the accepted evidence.
These changes are aimed at making document verification more consistent and reducing the potential misuse of declarations or documents that do not provide sufficient verification. Applicants should check the final list of accepted documents before submitting an application.
Online Updates to Driving Licence Details
The proposed amendments include a dedicated online procedure for changing details recorded on a driving licence. This could cover information such as the licence holder's name and address, subject to the applicable requirements and supporting documents.
Under the draft, licensing authorities would have 15 days to approve or reject an application to change licence particulars. If an application is rejected, reasons would have to be recorded and communicated to the applicant, including through electronic means.
For address-change applications, the proposal states that an application would be deemed approved if the authority neither accepts nor rejects it within 30 days.
The draft also proposes removing charges for certain changes to licence particulars and waiving fees for specified services accessed online through Aadhaar authentication. Applicants should check the final rules for the exact services covered and any conditions that apply.
Other Proposed Changes to Licence Administration
The draft covers other administrative aspects of driving licences. It proposes a consolidated application process for several services, including renewals, duplicate licences, adding a vehicle category and changing personal details. Information already available through the Sarathi portal could be retrieved electronically where applicable.
Another proposal concerns people who permanently surrender a vehicle category listed on their licence. Under the draft, the surrendered category would be deleted automatically within seven days of the application. The person would then be ineligible to obtain a learner's licence or driving licence for that category for one year from the date of surrender.
These proposals form part of a broader attempt to standardise licence administration and make processing more predictable. Their final scope will depend on the rules adopted after the consultation process.
When Will the New Rules Take Effect?
The proposed changes should not be treated as final rules merely because they have appeared in a draft notification. The draft provides an opportunity for objections and suggestions within the prescribed period.
The amendments would come into force after final publication in the Official Gazette, unless a different commencement date is specified. Until then, applicants should follow the existing applicable procedures and rely on official government announcements for updates.
The proposal could bring visible changes to driving licence cards, assessment requirements and online services in India. However, the final colour schemes, implementation arrangements and exact requirements should be confirmed through the official notification.
Motorists do not need to assume that their current licences have become invalid because of this proposal. Anyone applying for a new licence, renewing an existing one or changing personal details should consult the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways or their local licensing authority for the latest instructions.
