- Separate colour-coded licences for Indian citizens and foreigners.
- Mandatory blood group, emergency contact details on new licences.
- Stricter document verification and online safe-driving tutorial.
The Centre has proposed major changes in India’s driving licence system, including separate colour-coded licences for Indians and foreign nationals and compulsory details such as blood group and emergency contact details. The government also said that the documents submitted by clients would be stricter from now onwards.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The proposal aims to tighten the driving licence issuance process, reduce the possibility of fraudulent documentation and make several licence-related services more accessible through online platforms.
What are the changes proposed?
Under the proposed amendments, driving licences issued to Indian citizens and foreign nationals would have separate formats and colour schemes. The nationality of the licence holder would also be mentioned on the driving licence, making it easier for authorities to distinguish between the two categories of licence holders.
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Currently, driving licences issued in India follow a standard format, irrespective of whether the holder is an Indian citizen or a foreign national. The proposed change would introduce a more clearly differentiated system. The draft states that every driving licence issued or renewed by a licensing authority would be in the form of a laminated card or a Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) card, following the specifications prescribed under Form 7.
Another significant proposal concerns the personal information displayed on driving licences. The ministry has proposed making it mandatory for driving licences to carry the holder's blood group, mobile number, emergency contact details, and nationality.
The inclusion of blood group and emergency contact information could prove significant during road accidents and medical emergencies, when identifying a person or contacting their family members may be difficult. The additional information would also provide licensing authorities with more details about the licence holder. However, the proposed amendments are still at the draft stage, and the final requirements will depend on the government's decision following the consultation process.
The Centre has proposed making the online safe-driving tutorial assessment more stringent. Under the existing framework, the qualifying score for the assessment is 60%. The draft proposes increasing this threshold to 75 per cent
Which documents will be accepted as proof during application process
Under the proposed rules, applicants will be required to submit specific documents to establish their identity, age and address while applying for a driving licence. For proof of address, acceptable documents could include an Aadhaar card, Electoral Photo Identity Card, e-ration card, or electricity and gas bills issued within the preceding three months.
For proof of age, applicants may use a passport, school board mark sheets, birth certificate or identity cards issued by government departments. Aadhaar cards, passports, e-ration cards and PAN cards could be accepted as proof of identity. Foreign nationals, meanwhile, may be required to submit documents establishing their legal presence in India, as prescribed under the proposed rules.