**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 91, answered on February 5, 2026, regarding national design standards for trucks. The response outlines the Government's assessments, proposed upgrades, and steps to promote modern truck technology. Key action items involve mandatory implementation of new safety and performance standards, with enforcement beginning as early as October 1, 2027, and incentives for fleet modernization are detailed.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Assessments and Reviews:**
* The Government periodically reviews truck design items, including braking, axle loads, dimensions, fuel efficiency, and speed limits, by formulating Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) and framing rules under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
* Reviews are conducted through the Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) and the Central Motor Vehicle Rules Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC).
* **Speed Limits:**
* Maximum speed limit for goods vehicles: 80 kmph on expressways and 4-lane carriageways with medians.
* Maximum speed limit for goods vehicles: 60 kmph on roads within municipal limits and other roads.
* Maximum speed limit for trucks carrying dangerous goods: 60 kmph.
* **Vehicle Requirements:**
* Goods vehicles must undergo a truck cabin structural strength test.
* Goods vehicles manufactured after April 1, 2020 (excluding puller tractors) must have a reverse parking alert system (AIS-145:2017).
* Trucks must be fitted with reflective tape (AIS:090-2005).
* Trucks must be fitted with rear and lateral under-run protective devices (IS:14812 and IS:14862).
* **Upgraded Standards:**
* Revised braking standard (IS 11852 2019) mandated for trucks from October 1, 2027 [GSR 834(E) dated November 11, 2025].
* Electronic stability control systems (AIS 162) mandated for trucks from October 1, 2027 [GSR 834(E) dated November 11, 2025].
* Advanced Emergency Braking System (AIS 162) mandated from October 1, 2027.
* Blind Spot Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information System (AIS 187) mandated from January 1, 2028.
* Driver Drowsiness Detection and Alert system (AIS 184) and lane departure warning system (AIS 188) mandated from January 1, 2028.
* Mandatory AC in truck cabins mandated from October 1, 2025.
* Fuel efficiency norms notified [G.S.R 844(E) dated November 22, 2022] for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
* **Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP):**
* Government has introduced the Voluntary Vehicle fleet Modernisation Program (V-VMP) for scrappage of end-of-life vehicles.
* Road tax reduction offered for vehicles registered with a certificate of deposit issued against scrapping.
* GSR 714 (E) dated October 4, 2021: No fee for the certificate of registration when registered with ‘Certificate of Deposit‘.
* GSR 720 (E) dated October 5, 2021: Motor vehicle tax concession (up to 25% for non-transport, 15% for transport) for vehicles registered with a ‘Certificate of Deposit’.
* GSR 200 (E) dated March 26, 2025: Up to 50% concession in motor vehicle tax for vehicles manufactured as per BS-I/BS-II norms.
**Impact Analysis**
**Truck Manufacturers/OEMs**
* **Impact:** Affected by the mandatory implementation of new safety standards (braking systems, stability control, emergency braking, driver assistance technologies), cabin AC requirement, and fuel efficiency norms.
* **Action Required:** Update truck designs and manufacturing processes to comply with the new standards, ensure vehicle testing and certification, and adapt to the V-VMP incentives.
**Truck Owners/Operators**
* **Impact:** Impacted by speed limit regulations, mandatory retrofitting requirements (reverse parking alert, reflective tape, under-run protective devices), and the V-VMP incentives for fleet modernization.
* **Action Required:** Ensure existing vehicles comply with retrofitting requirements, adhere to speed limits, and consider participating in the V-VMP for incentives to replace older vehicles.
**Drivers**
* **Impact:** Affected by mandatory AC in truck cabins and the adoption of advanced driver assistance technologies.
* **Action Required:** Familiarise themselves with the new driver assistance technologies, ensure the vehicle complies with regulations, and drive according to speed regulations.
**Scrappage Centers**
* **Impact:** Impacted by the V-VMP and the need to provide certificates of deposit for scrapped vehicles.
* **Action Required:** Become authorised scrappage centres, issue certificates of deposit for scrapped vehicles, and work with the relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central ministry responsible for policies related to road transport, national highways and transport research.
Automotive Industry Standards (AIS): Standards formulated for design items related to safety, function, and construction of motor vehicles.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Rules framed to regulate motor vehicles, including their design, construction, and safety.
Voluntary Vehicle fleet Modernisation Program (V-VMP): A program for scrappage of end-of-life vehicles with incentives for modernization of vehicle fleets.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 91
ANSWERED ON 5th FEBRUARY, 2026
NATIONAL DESIGN STANDARDS FOR TRUCKS
*91. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding
the suitability of current designs of trucks and heavy-transport
vehicles in the country to operate safely at the prescribed speed
limits, particularly under full load conditions on National
Highways and Expressways;
(b) if so, the findings of such assessments with respect to
existing truck models’ engine power, braking systems, axle
configurations, stability and on-road performance compared to
prescribed speed and axle load standards;
(c) whether the Government proposes to upgrade national design
standards for trucks to improve safety, fuel efficiency, brake
reliability and high-speed performance and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken to promote adoption of modern truck
technology including incentives for fleet modernization,
scrappage and adoption of advanced safety systems?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *91 FOR ANSWER ON 5th
FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI RAHUL KASWAN REGARDING
NATIONAL DESIGN STANDARDS FOR TRUCKS.
(a) to (b) Based on the assessment of the construction, function and
safety requirements of motor vehicles, Government undertakes
periodic review of design items such as braking, axle loads,
dimensions, fuel efficiency, speed limits, etc. in respect of medium
and heavy-duty goods vehicle by formulating Automotive Industry
Standards (AIS) and framing of Rules under the Central Motor Vehicles
Rules, 1989. This exercise is carried out through the Automotive
Industry Standards Committee (AISC) and the Central Motor Vehicle
Rules Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC) from time to time.
The maximum speed limit for a goods vehicle is limited to 80 Kmph on
Expressways and 4-lane and above carriageways with medians. This is
limited to 60 kmph for roads within Municipal limits and other roads.
Further, for trucks carrying dangerous goods, the speed is limited to
60kmph.
Goods vehicle is required to undergo a truck cabin structural strength
test.
The goods vehicles, manufactured on and after 01st April 2020, except
for puller tractors for trailers, are required to be fitted with a reverse
parking alert system complying with the requirements of AIS-
145:2017. The trucks are required to be fitted with a reflective tape
across the width of the body in accordance with the requirements of
AIS:090-2005.
The trucks are required to be fitted with Rear under run protective
device and a lateral under-run protective device in accordance with IS:
14812 and IS:14862, respectively.
(c) Some of the steps taken in this regard are as follows:
i. To enhance evaluation of brake performance- revised braking
standard (IS 11852 2019) has been mandated [vide GSR 834(E)
dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f 01st Oct 2027. Earlier, the
said standard was applicable to buses built by Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) only.ii. Braking systems have been advanced with mandatory
implementation of electronic stability control systems (AIS
162) [vide GSR 834(E) dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f 01st
Oct 2027 which provide stability specially in the event of braking
at curves.
iii. Further Advanced Emergency Braking System (AIS 162) w.e.f
01st Oct 2027 has been made mandatory which provides for
automatic braking in event of failure of driver to respond to
emergency situations to either avoid crash with obstacles in
front or reduce the impact of crash.
iv. Advanced driver assistance technologies such as Blind Spot
Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information
System(AIS 187) w.e.f 01st January 2028, have been made
mandatory which will enhance safety of vulnerable road users.
v. To mitigate the impact of the dangerous situation of a driver
falling asleep and thus the vehicle losing the desired course of
movement, systems such as Driver Drowsiness Detection and
Alert system has been mandated (AIS 184) w.e.f 01st January
2028. Additionally, the lane departure warning system(AIS 188)
has been made mandatory w.e.f 01st January 2028 which gives a
warning in the event of vehicle deviating from the expected
course of movement.
vi. To reduce driver fatigue, mandatory Fitment of AC in truck
cabins has been mandated under CMVR w.e.f 01st October 2025.
vii. Fuel efficiency norms have been notified [vide G.S.R 844(E) dated
22nd November, 2022] in respect of Medium and heavy-duty
vehicles, to improve fuel economy.
(d) Government has introduced the Voluntary Vehicle fleet
Modernisation Program (V-VMP) for scrappage of end-of-life vehicles.
Incentives in the form of a reduction in road tax in exchange of
certificate of deposit issued against scrapping the end-of-life vehicle,
by the authorised scrappage centres, are being provided.
The following incentives are provided under the V-VMP for fleet
modernisation: -(i) GSR 714 (E) dated 04.10.2021 provides that, in case the
vehicle is registered on submission of ‘Certificate of Deposit‘, the
fee for issue of certificate of registration shall not be levied.
(ii) GSR 720 (E) dated 05.10.2021 provides for concession in the
motor vehicle tax (upto twenty five per cent., in case of non-
transport vehicles and upto fifteen per cent, in case of transport
vehicles) for the vehicle registered against submission of
"Certificate of deposit". Provided that this concession shall be
available upto eight years, in case of transport vehicles, and upto
fifteen years, in case of non-transport vehicles.
(iii) GSR 200 (E) dated 26.03.2025 provides for concession in the
motor vehicle tax of up to fifty percent against such certificate
for all transport and non-transport vehicles which are
manufactured as per Mass Emission Standards Bharat Stage I
(BS-I) norms and earlier Mass Emission Standard norms and all
medium and heavy goods motor vehicles and all medium and
heavy passenger motor vehicles which are manufactured as per
Mass Emission Standards Bharat Stage II (BS-II) norms.
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