Draft rules were published vide G.S.R. 99(E) dated February 2, 2026 and made available to the public on February 3, 2026. Objections and suggestions received from the public have been considered. The principal rules were last amended vide G.S.R. 417(E) dated May 25, 2026. In exercise of powers under Section 110(1)(g) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Central Government has substituted the fourth to tenth provisos of Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 with the following:

Altered, retrofitted or adapted motor vehicles shall be tested and type approved by testing agencies specified in Rule 126, or self-certified by original equipment manufacturers, or self-certified by workshops authorised by the State Government under Section 52 of the Act. Vehicle manufacturers importing up to 2500 units of M1 or L category and up to 500 units of other categories annually as unused completely built units or completely knocked down units of right-hand steering control vehicles compliant with EEC, ECE or Japanese standards shall be deemed compliant for sale and registration under Rule 47 by a certificate of compliance issued by an authorised agency or accredited certifying agency.

Such imported transport vehicles shall comply with Rule 118. For all imported L and M1 category gasoline-fuelled vehicles with positive ignition engines, in addition to the whole vehicle type approval certificate, the vehicle manufacturer shall provide a Type-I exhaust emission compliance report on E20 reference fuel (as per IS:17943) issued by an authorised test agency listed under Rule 126 or by the type approval authority and technical services; the manufacturer shall submit a declaration for material compatibility for E20 fuel to the authorised test agency.

The procedure for type approval and certification of agricultural tractors shall be in accordance with AIS-017(Part 2)(Rev.2): 2016. Unused right-hand steering control vehicles compliant with EEC, ECE or Japanese standards imported as completely built units for personal use, demonstration, testing, research or scientific work shall be deemed compliant for registration under Rule 47 by a certificate of compliance issued by an authorised or accredited certifying agency. Steering control in construction equipment vehicles may be provided on either side and in agricultural tractors at the centre on front or rear side. The administrative procedure to deal with corrigendum, amendments or revisions to Automotive Industry Standards, Type Approval Procedures 115/116, Indian Standards and ISO standards shall be in accordance with AIS-000:2013. Prototypes of truck bodies may be submitted for testing and type approval to engineering colleges specified by the State Government or State Road Transport Undertakings duly approved by the State Government.