Notification/Circular No.: G.S.R. 902(E) dated October 16, 2026
Applicable Act/Rule: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989; Information Technology Act, 2000; Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
Applicable Section/Rule: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Section 27 clauses (b), (c), (da), (db), (d.), (h), (ff), (i), (k) and (q); Section 139(1)(a); Section 211A; Section 212(1). Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Rules 4, 6, 11, 14, 16, 16A (proposed), 17A, and 32. Section 28(k) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is referenced for document specification by States.
The Central Government (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The draft addresses documentary evidence for address, age and identity in licence matters, learner’s licence testing, driving licence card format, online change of particulars, and surrender of vehicle classes on licences.
The draft rules will be taken into consideration after the expiry of thirty days from the date on which copies of the notification are made available to the public. Objections or suggestions received within that period will be considered by the Central Government. Submissions may be sent to the Under Secretary (MVL, Transport and Road Safety), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi-110001, or by email to comments-morth@gov.in. The draft text states that, unless otherwise provided, the rules shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (upon final notification).
The draft substitutes Rule 4 to set out acceptable evidence for address, age and identity for licence issuance. For address proof, applicants must present one or more original documents or self-attested relevant pages from the following: Aadhaar card; Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC); Passport; e-Ration Card; a service photo identity card issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking, or any other regulatory or statutory body; a pensioner photo identity card or freedom fighter photo identity card or a pension payment order issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking or any other regulatory or statutory body; an electricity bill not older than three months from the date of application; a domestic gas bill not older than three months from the date of application; any other document as may be specified by the State Government under Section 28(k) of the Act; and, for foreign nationals, in addition to residence proof, proof of legally staying in India. For age proof, acceptable documents include: Passport; a marksheet issued by a recognised school education board, university, deemed university, higher education institution or industrial training institute established or recognised by the Central or State Government, indicating date of birth; a birth certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and its rules; a service photo identity card issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking or any other regulatory or statutory body; a pensioner photo identity card or freedom fighter photo identity card or a pension payment order issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking or any other regulatory or statutory body; and any other document specified by the State Government under Section 28(k). For identity proof, acceptable documents include: Aadhaar card; valid Indian Passport; e-Ration Card; a service photo identity card issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking or any other regulatory or statutory body; a pensioner photo identity card or freedom fighter photo identity card or a pension payment order issued by the Central Government, State Government, a public sector undertaking or any other regulatory or statutory body; and Permanent Account Number (PAN).
Rule 6 is proposed to be omitted. Amendments to Rule 11 strengthen learner’s licence requirements: in sub-rule (1), “seven days” is replaced with “fifteen days” and a requirement is added that the tutorial on safe driving must have a duration of not less than thirty minutes; in sub-rule (3), the reference to submission of application under rule 10 is replaced with the completion of the tutorial referred to in sub-rule (1); in sub-rule (4), the passing threshold is raised from 60 percent to 75 percent; and in sub-rule (5), clauses (g) and (gh) are omitted.
Rule 14 is amended to replace “Form 4” with “Form 2” in sub-rule (1); omit clauses (g) and (gh) in sub-rule (2); and in clause (d.) of sub-rule (2), insert the word “Indian” before “valid proof.” Rule 16 is revised to require that every driving licence issued or renewed by the licensing authority shall be in Form 7 as a laminated or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) card, with separate formats for Indian citizens and foreign nationals, as per the specifications in Annexure XI; sub-rule (6) of Rule 16 is omitted.
A new Rule 16A (Change in particulars in driving licence) is proposed. A licence holder must apply on the portal in Form 2A to record changes in particulars, attaching valid proof of the correct details. The application may be authenticated by an e-signature under the Information Technology Act, 2000, or by any other mode of signature or authentication notified by the Central Government. Within fifteen days of receipt of the application, the licensing authority shall approve the change or reject it with recorded reasons, and the applicant shall be informed, including through electronic means. Provided that if an application for change of address is neither approved nor rejected within thirty days, it shall be deemed to have been approved.
Amendments to Rule 17A (surrender of class of motor vehicle on a driving licence) remove the requirement to pay the fee specified in Rule 32 in sub-rule (1). Sub-rule (2) is substituted to provide that within seven days of receipt of the application under sub-rule (1), the category or categories applied for shall be automatically removed from the applicant’s driving licence. A new sub-rule (4) bars any person who permanently surrenders any class or classes from being eligible to obtain a learner’s licence or driving licence for that class or classes for a period of one year from the date of surrender.
Further amendments to Rule 32 are referenced in the draft, but the extract does not provide the text of those changes. Not specified.
Link: https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2026/277305.pdf
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