Driving licence rules: Centre proposes colour codes, tougher test
By Meera IyerGovernance & Policy Editor, Peepals Bharat
Representative image: Tumisu / Pixabay
A draft notified in the Gazette on October 21, 2026 proposes new driving licence formats with nationality, separate colours for foreigners and a higher test pass mark.
What Happened
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed changes to how driving licences are issued and how they look, in draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, published in the Gazette of India on 21 October 2026. The draft would print the holder's nationality on the licence, give Indian citizens and foreign nationals licences with different background colours, add details such as blood group and an emergency contact, and raise the pass mark for the licence test from 60% to 75%. The rules are still a draft and are not yet in force.
Key Facts
- What: draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, proposed by MoRTH and published in the Gazette of India on 21 October 2026.
- Separate formats: licences for Indian citizens and for foreign nationals would have different background colours, and the holder's nationality would be shown on the card.
- Foreign applicants would need to show proof of legal presence in India along with proof of residence.
- New details on the card: blood group, mobile number and emergency contact details; the card itself would be a laminated or PVC card.
- Tougher test: the pass mark would rise from 60% to 75%; reports differ on whether this applies to the learner's licence test or the driving test.
- Applicants would have to complete a safe-driving tutorial of at least 30 minutes.
- Simpler paperwork: affidavits would no longer be accepted as proof of age or address, and fees would be waived for certain online updates completed through Aadhaar authentication.
Why It Matters
A driving licence is one of the most widely used identity documents in India, so what is printed on the card, and how easy it is to read, matters well beyond driving. Showing nationality and using a separate colour for foreign nationals would let police and officials tell at a glance whether a licence was issued to an Indian citizen or to a foreigner living in India, which is what the requirement for foreigners to prove legal presence is meant to back up.
Adding blood group and an emergency contact is aimed at road accidents. When someone is injured and cannot speak, these details on the card could help doctors and police reach family members and plan treatment faster.
The higher pass mark and the safe-driving tutorial are meant to make sure new drivers know the rules of the road before they get a licence. Raising the bar from 60% to 75% means applicants would need to answer more questions correctly or perform better in the test, depending on how the final rule is worded. At the same time, dropping affidavits and making some Aadhaar-based online updates free is meant to cut paperwork and cost for honest applicants.
| Proposed change | What it means |
|---|---|
| Nationality on licence | Shows whether the holder is an Indian citizen or a foreign national |
| Separate colours | Different background colours for Indians and foreigners |
| Blood group, emergency contact | Faster help after road accidents |
| Pass mark 60% to 75% | Harder test for new applicants |
| No affidavits | Affidavits no longer accepted as proof of age or address |
Impact
Short-term: Nothing changes for existing licence holders yet, because the rules are only a draft. The ministry can revise the proposals before it notifies the final rules.
Long-term: If adopted, new applicants would face a stricter test and a short safe-driving tutorial, and licences would carry more information. Foreign nationals living in India would need extra documents to get a licence, and states would have to update their systems to issue the new formats.
Who is affected: Learner and new licence applicants across India; foreign nationals who drive in India; state transport departments and regional transport offices; driving schools; and traffic police, who would read the new cards.
Key Takeaway
The Centre's draft would make India's driving licence a richer identity card, with nationality, colour codes and emergency details, and make the test harder to pass.
Questions and Answers
What are the new driving licence rules proposed in October 2026?
In draft amendments published on 21 October 2026, the road transport ministry proposed showing nationality on licences, using different colours for Indian citizens and foreign nationals, adding blood group and emergency contacts, raising the test pass mark to 75% and requiring a 30-minute safe-driving tutorial.
Do I need to change my current driving licence?
No. The proposals are only a draft. They do not apply until the ministry notifies final rules, and nothing in the reports says existing licences must be replaced.
What will change for foreign nationals?
Foreign nationals would get a licence with a different background colour and would have to show proof of legal presence in India along with proof of residence when they apply.
Will getting a licence involve less paperwork?
In some ways, yes. The draft would stop accepting affidavits as proof of age or address and would waive fees for certain online updates done through Aadhaar authentication.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Meera Iyer, Governance & Policy EditorCovers Governance & Policy and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Meera Iyer
Bharat Coking Coal swings to Rs 123.74 crore Q2 profit; revenue +39%
Winter flight schedule begins: Air India Express adds 40-plus new routes
Meera Iyer is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
