Proposed Amendments to Driving Licence Rules

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• The Union government has proposed changes to driving licence rules to tighten the requirements for obtaining a learner’s licence as part of a wider overhaul of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

Proposed Changes in the Rules

• Stricter learner’s test: It proposes raising the pass mark for the preliminary learners’ test from 60% to 75%. 
  • Applicants will get 15 days, instead of seven, to complete the learner’s licence process and will have to take a safe-driving tutorial of at least 30 minutes.
• Documentation: Applicants will have to submit separate proof of address, age and identity. 
  • The list of acceptable documents will include Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, e-ration card, PAN and certain government-issued identity documents. 
  • Electricity and household gas bills issued within the past three months can also be used as address proof.
  • Foreign applicants should show that they are legally present in India.
• Simplified licence services: A new Form 2A is proposed to bring together applications for licence renewal, duplicate licences, changes to names or addresses, updates to personal details and the addition of vehicle categories.
  • The draft proposes no fee for changing a licence holder’s name, address or other recorded details.
• Medical disclosures: Applicants will have to provide more medical information, including whether they have epilepsy or other seizure disorders, hearing impairment, night blindness, medicine allergies or medical and surgical implants. 
  • People who report epilepsy or a seizure disorder, along with a seizure in the previous three years, or who are on anti-epileptic medication at present or are on a tapering course of that medication, will not be eligible for a driving licence.
  • The details about medicine allergies, implants and certain other medical information will be used only if the person is hospitalised after a road accident.
  • The draft also proposes collecting information such as blood group and emergency contact details in licence applications.
• Standardised licence format: Laminated or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cards are proposed as the prescribed format for driving licences, with different background colour schemes and nationality included among the licence details.

Significance of the Draft Amendment

• Improved road safety: A higher assessment threshold will encourage better understanding of traffic rules and safe-driving practices.
• Ease of living: Fee waivers, online applications and simplified documentation will reduce compliance costs and repeated visits to licensing offices.
• Administrative transparency: Prescribed decision timelines and recorded reasons for rejection will improve accountability.
• Better emergency response: Collecting blood group and emergency-contact details will help make relevant information available during emergencies, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Way Ahead

• Assessment quality: The assessment should meaningfully test traffic-rule awareness, hazard perception and the protection of vulnerable road users.
• Rigorous practical tests: Practical driving tests should be standardised, objective and resistant to manipulation or undue discretion.
• Digital accessibility: Online services should be supported by accessible assistance for applicants facing digital or authentication barriers.
• Data protection: Additional personal and medical information should be collected and used only for defined purposes, with appropriate safeguards.

Source: TH