Ministry of Road Transport Proposes Colour-Coded Driving Licences and Mandatory Emergency Contacts

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has released draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, introducing a series of regulatory updates regarding driving licences in India.

Among the key proposals is the introduction of separate colour schemes for driving licences issued or renewed for Indian nationals and foreign nationals. Under the draft notification, every licence issued or renewed by a licensing authority will be in the form of a laminated or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) card in Form 7, featuring distinct formats for citizens and foreign nationals.

The ministry has also proposed making it mandatory for driving licences to display the holder's blood group, mobile number, and emergency contact numbers. Additionally, the draft rules specify that driving licences must be issued as laminated or PVC cards.

To tighten assessment requirements for applicants, MoRTH has proposed raising the qualifying threshold for the safe-driving tutorial assessment from 60 percent to 75 percent. Furthermore, the draft stipulates that the safe-driving tutorial must run for a minimum duration of 30 minutes.

The proposals also address administrative procedures for application processing. Licensing authorities will be required to approve or reject applications for changing driving licence particulars—such as name and address—within a 15-day window, providing clear reasons for any rejections. The ministry has proposed removing all charges associated with changes in personal details.

In an effort to streamline documentation and prevent misuse, the draft rules propose accepting life insurance policies as proof of age and address, alongside doing away with affidavits sworn before an executive magistrate or notary for these purposes. The acceptable list of documents for identity, age, and residence verification includes Aadhaar, passports, voter identity cards, e-ration cards, and birth certificates.

The regulatory updates also include a fee waiver for select online driving licence services completed via Aadhaar authentication.

The ministry has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders regarding the draft notification within a 30-day period from its publication. Comments are required to be submitted in English and in full sentences.

"These proposed amendments by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways introduce important administrative changes that impact identification standards and digital verification processes. For businesses, particularly those operating in logistics, mobility, and transport sectors, staying aligned with updated compliance timelines—such as the 15-day processing windows and Aadhaar authentication frameworks—will be essential. Standardising documentation and incorporating mandatory emergency details on PVC cards also streamlines verification protocols, bringing greater clarity and security to regulatory processes." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes