The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed changes to driving licence rules, including a higher qualifying score for safe-driving tutorial assessments and fee waivers for certain online services accessed through Aadhaar authentication. The draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules also propose time limits for processing applications to update driving licence details, changes to the list of accepted identity and address documents, and a simplified application process for several licence-related services. The proposals are part of a draft notification published late Wednesday night. They are not yet final rules and will come into effect only after the government issues a final notification.
Driving licence test: Safe-driving tutorial pass mark may increase
Under the proposed changes, the qualifying score for the safe-driving tutorial assessment could rise from 60% to 75%. The tutorial would also have to run for at least 30 minutes. The higher pass mark is intended to make the assessment more stringent and encourage applicants to develop a better understanding of safe driving practices.
Driving licence services that may become free
The draft proposes waiving fees for specified driving licence services accessed online through Aadhaar authentication. It also proposes removing charges for changes to personal details, including an applicant's name and address.
The exact scope of the fee exemptions will depend on the final notification. Applicants should therefore check the applicable rules before assuming that all online driving licence services will be free.
Driving licence name and address change: New processing deadlines proposed
The draft sets out a defined process for applications to change details such as a driving licence holder's name or address.
Under the proposal, licensing authorities would have to approve or reject applications for changes within 15 days. If an application is rejected, the authority would have to provide reasons for the decision.
For address-change applications, the draft proposes that an application left undecided for 30 days would be treated as approved.
The proposed deadlines are intended to make the process more predictable for applicants and reduce delays in updating licence records.
Driving licence documents: Aadhaar, passport and utility bills among accepted proofs
The proposed amendments specify documents that applicants can use as proof of identity, age and residence.
The list includes Aadhaar, passports, voter identity cards, recognised educational certificates and birth certificates, among other documents.
For address verification, electricity bills and household gas bills issued within the previous three months are among the proposed acceptable documents.
The draft also proposes removing LIC policies from the list of accepted address-proof documents.
Applicants will need to refer to the final rules to confirm which documents will be accepted once the amendments take effect.
Driving licence applications: Consolidated form proposed for multiple services
The draft proposes a consolidated application form for several driving licence-related services. These would include licence renewal, the issuance of duplicate licences, the addition of a vehicle class and changes to personal details.
Where the information is available, relevant applicant details would be retrieved electronically from the SARATHI portal. This could reduce the need for applicants to enter the same information repeatedly when applying for different services.
Surrendering a vehicle class on a driving licence: What the draft says
Under another proposed change, a vehicle class would have to be removed from a driving licence within seven days of an application to surrender it.
However, anyone who permanently surrenders a vehicle class would not be eligible to obtain a learner's or driving licence for that same class for one year.
The restriction would apply to the vehicle class being surrendered, as specified in the proposal.
Driving licence rule changes: When will the new norms take effect?
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the draft notification's publication.
The proposed changes will not automatically take effect upon publication of the draft. The government will consider feedback before issuing the final notification, after which the amended provisions will come into force.
Until then, existing driving licence rules and applicable fees will continue to apply.
Inputs from TOI