## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a proposed amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, as published in the Gazette of India on June 23, 2025. The amendment focuses on mandating Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) for L2 category vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2026, and requiring manufacturers to supply two protective headgears with new two-wheelers at the time of purchase, subject to certain exemptions. The key findings highlight the increased safety standards for L2 vehicles and a potential increase in initial costs of two-wheelers to consumers.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative overview of a proposed amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, based solely on the information provided in the official notification published in the Gazette of India on June 23, 2025. The purpose is to analyze the changes, their likely rationale, and potential implications for affected stakeholders.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* The policy being amended is the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
* The core objectives of this specific amendment, as inferred from the text, are:
* To enhance the safety standards of L2 category vehicles by mandating the inclusion of Antilock Braking Systems (ABS).
* To promote rider safety by requiring manufacturers to provide two protective headgears with new two-wheelers.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This document amends the existing Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The rationale for this specific amendment appears to be driven by a need to improve road safety for riders of L2 category vehicles by implementing ABS technology, and to encourage the use of protective headgears by two-wheeler riders from the point of purchase. The mandate for ABS aims to reduce accidents caused by skidding during braking. Providing headgears at the time of purchase ensures immediate access to safety equipment.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This amendment introduces two key changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989:
* **Change 1: ABS Mandate for L2 Vehicles**
* **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** Rule 96, in subrule 4A.
* **New Rule:** Vehicles of category L2 manufactured on and after January 1, 2026, for all models, must be fitted with Antilock Braking Systems (ABS) conforming to IS14664:2010, as amended from time to time.
* **Effect of Change:** This introduces a mandatory safety requirement for L2 vehicles, specifically requiring ABS that adheres to the specified Indian Standard. It raises the minimum safety standard for newly manufactured L2 vehicles.
* **Change 2: Headgear Provision with Two-Wheeler Purchase**
* **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** Clause f of subrule 4 of rule 138
* **New Rule:** Manufacturers of two-wheelers must supply two protective headgears conforming to specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards at the time of purchase. This rule applies for three months from the date of commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules, 2025. This is subject to exemptions in terms of section 129.
* **Effect of Change:** This ensures that new two-wheeler buyers have immediate access to protective headgears, promoting safer riding practices from the outset. It places the responsibility of providing headgears on the manufacturer for an initial period of three months after the commencement of this amendment.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The directly affected stakeholders are:
* Manufacturers of L2 category vehicles.
* Manufacturers of two-wheelers.
* Consumers purchasing new L2 category vehicles and two-wheelers.
* Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is the responsible body, as indicated by the notification. The notification also mentions the Additional Secretary MVL, who is likely involved in overseeing the implementation.
* **Timelines:**
* The ABS mandate for L2 vehicles comes into force on January 1, 2026.
* The headgear provision applies for three months from the date of commencement of the Central Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules, 2025.
* **Procedures:** Vehicle manufacturers will need to adjust their production processes to incorporate ABS in L2 vehicles and include two headgears with each two-wheeler sold. The ABS must conform to IS14664:2010 standards.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
* **ABS Mandate:**
* Reduction in accidents involving L2 vehicles due to improved braking performance, especially in emergency situations.
* Potential increase in the cost of L2 vehicles due to the inclusion of ABS.
* **Headgear Provision:**
* Increased use of protective headgears among new two-wheeler riders.
* Potential reduction in head injuries and fatalities in two-wheeler accidents.
* Potential increase in the initial cost of two-wheelers due to the inclusion of two headgears.
**9. Conclusion:**
The proposed amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, introduces significant safety enhancements for L2 vehicles and two-wheeler riders. The ABS mandate for L2 vehicles and the provision of protective headgears with new two-wheelers are expected to contribute to improved road safety. While these changes may lead to increased initial costs for consumers, the potential benefits in terms of reduced accidents and injuries are substantial. The amendment signifies a proactive approach by the government toward improving road safety standards in the country.
Key Entities Referenced
Parliament Street, New Delhi: Location of Transport Bhawan.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: The principal rules being amended by the current notification.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: The Act that confers powers to the Central Government to make rules.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The ministry responsible for issuing the notification and formulating the draft rules.
New Delhi: The location where the notification was issued and where the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is located.
Central Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules, 2025: The name of the amendment rules being introduced.
Official Gazette: The official publication where the final rules will be published.
Antilock Braking System: A safety system that will be required for L2 category vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2026.
IS14664:2010: The Indian Standard specification for Antilock Braking Systems.
Bureau of Indian Standards: The national standards body of India that prescribes specifications for protective headgears.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-27062025-264190
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D7H0x6x2x0 25-264190
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 372] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतवार, िनू 26, 2025/आषाढ़ 5, 1947
No. 372] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025/ASHADHA 5, 1947
सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग ग मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 23 िून, 2025
सा.का.जन. 415(अ).—केंद्रीय मोटर यान जनयम, 1989, जिनमें केंद्र सरकार मोटर यान अजधजनयम, 1988
(1988 का 59) की धारा 110 और धारा 137 के उपबंध (क क) के द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए संिोधन
करने का प्रस्ट्ताव करती ह,ै में और अजधक संिोधन करते हुए जनम्नजलजखत प्रारूप जनयमों को इस अजधजनयम की धारा 212
की उप-धारा (1) के द्वारा यथावश्यक इसके द्वारा प्रभाजवत होने की संभावना वाले सभी व्यजियों की िानकारी के जलए
एतिद्वारा प्रकाजित दकया िाता ह;ै और एतिद्वारा नोरटस दिया िाता ह ै दक उि प्रारूप जनयमों को उस तारीख स े तीस
दिन की अवजध समाप्त होने के पश्चात ् जवचाराथग स्ट्वीकार कर जलया िाएगा जिस तारीख स े सरकारी रािपत्र म ें यथा
प्रकाजित इस अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां िनता के जलए उपलब्ध करायी िाती ह;ैं
उपरोि अवजध समाप्त होने के पहले उक्त प्रारूप जनयमों के संबंध म ें दकसी भी व्यजि स े प्राप्त होने वाली दकन्हीं
आपजत्तयों या सुझावों पर केंद्र सरकार द्वारा जवचार दकया िाएगा।
इन प्रारूप जनयमों के प्रजत आपजतयों एवं सुझावों, यदि कोई हो, को अपर सजचव (एमवीएल), ईमेल:
comments-morth@gov.in, सड़क पररवहन और रािमागग मंत्रालय, पररवहन भवन, संसि मागग, नई दिल्ली-
110001 के पास भेिा िा सकता ह।ै
4193 GI/2025
(1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
प्रारूप जनयम
1. िीषगक एव ं प्रारंभ – (1) इन जनयमों को मोटर यान (........संिोधन) जनयमावली, 2025 कहा िाएगा।
(2) ये जनयम आजधकाररक रािपत्र म ें अपने प्रकािन की तारीख स े प्रवृत होंगे।
2. केंद्रीय मोटर य़ान जनयमावली (सीएमवीआर), 1989 (इसके बाि उि जनयमों के रूप म ें उजल्लजखत) में,
जनयम 96 म,ें उप-जनयम (4क) म,ें प्रथम परंतुक के पश्चात ् जनम्नजलजखत प्रावधान अंतःस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत्:-
“इसके अजतररि यह भी प्रावधान ह ै दक 1 िनवरी, 2026 को और उसके बाि जनर्मगत श्रेणी एल2 के वाहनों में,
सभी मॉडलों के मामले म,ें समय-समय पर संिोजधत आईएस14664:2010 के अनुरूप एंटी-लॉक ब्रेककंग जसस्ट्टम लगाया
िाएगा।”
3. उि जनयम म,ें जनयम 138 के उप-जनयम (4) के उपबंध (च) म,ें परंतुक के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत परंतुक
प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकए िाएंगे अथागत्:-
"(च) िो पजहया वाहन की खरीि के समय, केंद्रीय मोटर यान (---- संिोधन) जनयमावली, 2025 के लागू होन े की
तारीख स े तीन महीने के भीतर, िो पजहया वाहन का जनमागता, िो पजहया वाहन की खरीि के समय, िो सुरक्षामक
हडे जगयर की आपूर्तग करेगा िो भारतीय मानक ब्यूरो द्वारा जनधागररत जवजनिेिों के अनुरूप होंगे:
बिते दक ये ितें धारा 129 के तहत छूट प्राप्त व्यजियों की श्रेणी पर लागू नहीं होंगी।"
[फा. सं. आरटी-11036/75/2014 -एमवीएल]
महमूि अहमि, अपर सजचव
रटप्प णी: मूल जनयम, भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग- II, खंड 3, उपधारा (i) म ें अजधसूचना संख्या सा.का.जन.
590(अ), दिनांक 2 िून,1989 के माध्यम स े प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े और जपछली बार अजधसूचना संख्या
सा.का.जन...........(अ), दिनांदकत ........... द्वारा संिोजधत दकए गए थे।
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 23rd June, 2025
G.S.R. 415(E).—The following draft rules to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which
the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 110 and clause (aa) of
section 137 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988) is hereby published as required by sub-section (1) of
Section 212 of the said Act for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby and notice is hereby given that
the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which
the copies of this notification, as published in the Gazette of India, are made available to the public.
The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules
before the expiry of the period aforesaid will be considered by the Central Government;
Objections and suggestions to these draft rules, if any, may be sent to the Additional Secretary (MVL), email:
comments-morth@gov.in, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street, New
Delhi-110 001.
Draft Rules
1. Short title and commencement - (1) These rules may be called the Central Motor Vehicles (---- Amendment)
Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (herein after referred as the said rules), in rule 96, in sub-rule (4A), after
first proviso following provision shall be inserted, namely: -[भाग II—खण्ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
“Provided further that vehicles of category L2 manufactured on and after 1st January, 2026, in case of all models,
shall be fitted with Anti-lock Braking System conforming to the IS14664:2010, as amended from time to time.”
3. In the said rules, in clause (f) of sub-rule (4) of rule 138, for the proviso, the following provisos shall be
substituted, namely,-
"(f) At the time of purchase of the two wheeler, three months from the date of commencement of Central Motor
Vehicles (---- Amendment) Rules, 2025, the manufacturer of the two wheeler shall supply two protective headgears
conforming to specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards at the time of purchase of a two wheeler:
PROVIDED that these conditions shall not apply to category of persons exempted in terms of section 129."
[F. No. RT-11036/75/2014-MVL]
MAHMOOD AHMED, Addl. Secy.
Note: The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3,
sub-section(i) vide G.S.R. 590(E), dated the 2nd June, 1989 and lastly amended vide G.S.R. …….(E)
dated the ……………….
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.