Driving License Shake-up: MORTH Proposes Major Reforms for India
India's MORTH proposes major driving license reforms including free detail updates, stricter safety tests, and new visual formats.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) is planning a significant overhaul of driving license regulations India to cut through bureaucratic red tape and elevate road safety standards. A draft notification, issued on October 16, 2026, and officially gazetted on October 21, 2026, outlines a series of amendments that could fundamentally change how citizens interact with licensing authorities.
Easier Updates and Zero Fees
In a move to make the process more citizen-friendly, the ministry proposes the elimination of fees for updating basic personal information. Under the new rules, citizens would no longer have to pay to update their names, addresses, mobile numbers, or email IDs. Additionally, the government plans to provide free Aadhaar-based authentication to further simplify the process.
Strict Timelines for Authorities
To prevent endless delays in government offices, the proposal introduces mandatory processing windows:
- Detail Changes: Authorities must make a decision on requests to change personal details within 15 days.
- Address Changes: If an address change request is not processed within 30 days, it will be deemed automatically approved.
Raising the Bar for Road Safety
Safety is at the core of these reforms, with MORTH proposing a tougher evaluation process for new drivers. The minimum passing score for the mandatory safe-driving tutorial is set to jump from 60% to 75%. To ensure applicants are well-informed, the tutorial must last at least 30 minutes. However, applicants will get more breathing room to complete this requirement, as the completion window will be extended from 7 days to 15 days.
New License Designs and Verification
The physical and digital look of the driving license is also slated for a change. New formats may now include critical information such as the holder's blood group, mobile number, and emergency contact details. To help authorities quickly identify the status of a driver, the ministry proposes distinct visual formats and color-coding to differentiate between licenses issued to Indian citizens and those issued to foreign nationals.
Moving Away from Affidavits
The ministry aims to refine how age and address are verified, potentially phasing out the use of affidavits. Instead, the government will rely on standardized documents, including:
- Aadhaar cards and Passports
- Voter IDs and Birth certificates
- PAN cards
- Electricity or gas bills (provided they are not older than three months)
Category Management and Restrictions
The proposal also introduces a streamlined system for managing vehicle categories. If a user requests the removal of a vehicle category from their license, the process will be automatic within 7 days. However, there is a catch for those who voluntarily surrender a category: they will be barred from obtaining a learner's or driving license for that specific category for one full year.
How to Provide Feedback
It is important to note that these changes are currently in the proposal stage and are not yet law. The government has opened a 30-day public consultation period to gather feedback from stakeholders and citizens. Suggestions and objections can be sent via email to comments-morth@gov.in or by post to the Additional Secretary (MVL, Transport & Road Safety) at Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001.