Getting a driving licence in India could soon involve a harder safety test but less paperwork and fewer fees. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has put out a draft amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, that raises the pass mark for the safe-driving tutorial from 60% to 75%, waives fees for several licence services done online through Aadhaar authentication, and sets fixed deadlines for officials handling change requests.
The draft, notified as G.S.R. 902(E) and dated October 16, appeared in the Gazette of India on October 21. It is not yet law: the ministry has invited objections and suggestions for 30 days, after which a final notification is needed.
A stricter safe-driving tutorial
Under the proposal, the safe-driving tutorial that applicants must complete would have to run for at least 30 minutes. Applicants would get 15 days to finish it instead of seven, but would need to score 75% in the assessment to pass. The change is meant to make the assessment more demanding.
Free services and deadlines for officials
Fees would be waived for specified licence services availed online with Aadhaar authentication, and for changes to particulars such as name and address. The late fee for delays in submitting a no-objection certificate after a change of residence would also go.
A new Rule 16A would let licence holders apply online, using a new Form 2A signed electronically, to change their details. Licensing authorities would have to approve or reject such applications within 15 days and give reasons for any rejection. An address-change request left undecided for 30 days would be treated as approved.
- One form for many services: renewal, duplicate licences, adding a vehicle class and changing details would be covered by a consolidated application, with applicant data pulled from the SARATHI licensing portal where available.
- Surrendering a class: a vehicle class would be removed within seven days of an application, but anyone permanently surrendering a class could not get a learner’s or driving licence for it for one year.
- New medical questions: self-declarations would ask about seizure disorders or epilepsy, allergic reactions and medical or surgical implants.
Which documents will count
The draft rewrites the list of accepted proofs of identity, age and address. It includes Aadhaar, passport, voter identity card, PAN, recognised educational certificates and birth certificates issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Electricity and household gas bills not older than three months would count as address proof. LIC policies would no longer be accepted.
A standard card with a QR code
Licences would be issued as laminated or PVC cards in a revised Form 7, with separate formats for Indian and foreign nationals and a size matching the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 card standard. The machine-readable zone would become a QR code zone carrying more data, including medical information and any disqualification record. The draft also sets out photo rules for applications, such as a white background and a file no larger than 1 MB.
What happens next
Comments can be sent to the Additional Secretary (MVL, Transport and Road Safety) at the ministry’s Transport Bhawan office in New Delhi, or by email, within 30 days of the gazette publication. The ministry will consider the responses before notifying the final rules, which will take effect only after that notification.
