**Executive Summary**
This draft notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (G.S.R. 202(E)), dated March 20, 2026, proposes amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, concerning type approval for hydrogen-powered vehicles. It establishes safety and procedural requirements for hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cell vehicles across various categories. Stakeholders must submit any objections or suggestions within 30 days of the notification's publication.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Regulatory Changes**
* Sub-rule 115-J in rule 115 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, is deleted.
* Rule 125-M is substituted with comprehensive requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles under sections 125-M(A) and 125-M(B).
**Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicles [Rule 125-M(A)]**
* **Category M and N:** Type approval must comply with safety and procedural requirements of AIS 195:2023. Hydrogen fuel must meet specifications in IS 16061: 2021.
* **Construction Equipment Vehicles:** Type approval must comply with AIS 195A:2024. Fuel specifications must align with IS 16061: 2021.
**Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles [Rule 125-M(B)]**
* **Category M and N:** Type approval requirements are set per AIS 157:2020. Hydrogen fuel specifications must follow ISO 14687.
* **Construction Equipment Vehicles:** Type approval requirements are set per AIS 157 A:2024. Fuel specifications must follow ISO 14687.
* **Category L Vehicles:** Type approval for both ICE and fuel cell variants must comply with AIS 206:2024. Fuel must meet IS 14687 or IS 16061: 2021, as applicable.
**Submission of Feedback**
* Objections and suggestions should be addressed to the Additional Secretary (MVL, Transport & Road Safety) at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New Delhi.
* Submissions can also be sent via email to comments-morth@gov.in.
**Impact Analysis**
**Vehicle Manufacturers (Categories M, N, L, and Construction Equipment)**
**Impact**
Manufacturers of hydrogen-powered vehicles are now subject to specific technical standards (AIS) and fuel specification requirements (IS/ISO) for obtaining type approval. Existing approval processes under rule 115-J are removed in favor of these detailed category-specific rules.
**Action Required**
Manufacturers must ensure that new vehicle models powered by hydrogen ICE or fuel cells are designed and tested according to the mandated AIS standards (195, 195A, 157, 157A, or 206) and meet the specified fuel quality benchmarks.
**Public and Industry Stakeholders**
**Impact**
Parties likely to be affected by these amendments have the opportunity to influence the final version of the rules before they are officially implemented.
**Action Required**
Interested parties must review the draft and submit any formal objections or suggestions to the Ministry within 30 days from the date the notification was made available to the public.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: The primary regulatory framework being amended to include safety and procedural requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: The parent legislation under which the Central Government exercises power to regulate vehicle construction, maintenance, and safety standards.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The nodal ministry responsible for formulating and notifying rules related to road transport and vehicle type approvals in India.
Automotive Industry Standards (AIS): A set of technical requirements (specifically AIS 195, AIS 157, and AIS 206) mandated for the safety and type approval of hydrogen internal combustion and fuel cell vehicles.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-27032026-271279
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D7H0x3x2x0 26-271279
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 196] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, माच ग24, 2026/ चत्रै 3, 1948
No. 196] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026/ CHAITRA 3, 1948
सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग गमत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 20 माच,ग 2026
सा.का.जन. 202(अ).— केंद्रीय मोटर यान जनयमावली, 1989 म ें और संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्न जलजखत कजतपय
प्रारूप जनयम म,ें जिसे केंद्रीय सरकार मोटर यान अजधजनयम, 1988 (1988 का 59) की धारा 110 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का
प्रयोग करत े हुए और संिोधन करने का प्रस्ट्ताव करती ह,ै को इस अजधजनयम की धारा 212 की उप-धारा (1) के द्वारा यथा
आवश्यक इसके द्वारा प्रभाजवत होने की संभावना वाल े सभी व्यजियों की िानकारी के जलए प्रकाजित दकया िाता ह;ै और
एतिद्वारा नोरटस दिया िाता ह ै दक प्रारूप जनयमों को उस तारीख स े तीस दिन की अवजध समाप्त होने के बाि जवचाराथ ग
स्ट्वीकार कर जलया िाएगा जिस तारीख स े सरकारी रािपत्र म ें यथा प्रकाजित इस अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां िनता के जलए
उपलब्ध करायी िाती ह;ैं
जवजनर्िगष्ट अवजध समाप्त होने के पहले उक्त प्रारूप जनयमों के संबंध म ें दकसी भी व्यजि स े प्राप्त होने वाली आक्षेपों
या सुझावों पर केंद्र सरकार द्वारा जवचार दकया िाएगा।
इन प्रारूप जनयमों के प्रजत आक्षेपों एव ं सुझावों, यदि कोई हो, को अपर सजचव (एमवीएल, पररवहन और सड़क
सुरक्षा), सड़क पररवहन और रािमागग मंत्रालय, पररवहन भवन, संसि मागग, नई दिल्ली-110001 या ईमेल: comments-
morth@gov.in, के माध् यम स े भेिा िा सकता ह।ै
2135 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
प्रारूप जनयम
1. संजक्षप्त िीर्गक एवं प्रारंभ - (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षप् त नाम केन्द्द्रीय मोटर यान (........सिं ोधन) जनयमावली,
2026 ह।ै
(2) परंतु इन जनयमों म ें अन्द् यथा यथा उपबंजधत के जसवाय, य े रािपत्र म ें उनके अंजतम प्रकािन की तारीख स े
प्रवृत्त होंगे।
2. उि जनयमों म,ें जनयम 115 के उप-जनयम 115-ञ को जवलोजपत कर दिया गया ह।ै
3. उि जनयमों म,ें जनयम 125-ड के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत पाठ्य प्रजतस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत्:-
“125-ड (क). तरल या संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन आंतररक िहन इंिन वाहनों का टाइप अनमु ोिन -
1. तरल या संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन स ेचाजलत एम और एन श्रजे णयों के आंतररक िहन इंिन वाहनों के टाइप
अनुमोिन के जलए सुरक्षा और प्रदियात्मक अपेक्षाएं, समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत एआईएस 195:2023 के
अनुरूप होंगी।
बिते दक आंतररक िहन इंिन वाले वाहनों के जलए हाइड्रोिन ईंधन जवजिजष्टताएं, आईएस 16061: 2021
के अनरूु प होंगी।
2. तरल या संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन स े चाजलत जनमाणग उपकरण वाहनों के आंतररक िहन इंिन वाल े वाहनों
के टाइप अनुमोिन के जलए सरु क्षा और प्रदियात्मक अपेक्षाए,ं समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत एआईएस
195ए:2024 के अनरूु प होंगी।
बिते दक आंतररक िहन इंिन वाले वाहनों के जलए हाइड्रोिन ईंधन जवजिजष्टताएं, आईएस 16061: 2021
के अनरूु प होंगी।
125- ड(ख). संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन ईंधन सले स ेचाजलत वाहनों का टाइप अनुमोिन -
1. संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन ईंधन सेल स ेचाजलत श्रेणी एम और श्रणे ी एन के मोटर वाहनों के टाइप के अनुमोिन
के जलए सुरक्षा और प्रदियात्मक अपक्षे ाए ं समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत एआईएस 157ए:2020 के अनरूु प
होंगी।
बिते दक ईंधन सले वाहनों के जलए हाइड्रोिन ईंधन जवजिजष्टताए,ं आईएसओ 14687 के अनरूु प होंगी।
2. संपीजड़त गैसीय हाइड्रोिन ईंधन सेल स े चाजलत जनमागण उपकरण वाहनों के टाइप अनुमोिन के जलए सुरक्षा
और प्रदियात्मक अपेक्षाएं समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत एआईएस 157 ए:2024 के अनरूु प होंगी।
बिते दक फ्यूल सेल वाहनों के जलए हाइड्रोिन ईंधन जवजिष्ट ताए,ं आईएसओ 14687 के अनुरूप होंगी।
3. श्रेणी एल के आंतररक िहन इंिन और तरल या संपीजड़त गसै ीय हाइड्रोिन स े चाजलत सपं ीजड़त गैसीय
हाइड्रोिन ईंधन सेल वाहनों के टाइप अनुमोिन के जलए सरु क्षा और प्रदियात्मक अपेक्षाएं समय-समय पर
यथा संिोजधत एआईएस 206:2024 के अनुरूप होंगी।
बिते दक फ्यूल सेल और आंतररक िहन इंिन वाले वाहनों के जलए हाइड्रोिन ईंधन जवजिष्ट ताए,ं आईएस
14687 या आईएस 16061: 2021, िो भी लागू हो, के अनुरूप होंगी।
[फा. स.ं आरटी-11028/02/2026-एमवीएल]
महमूि अहमि, अपर सजचव
रटप्प ण: मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खडं 3, उप-खडं (i) म ें साकाजन 590(अ), दिनांक 2 िून, 1989
के माध् यम स े प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े और जपछली बार साकाजन…..(अ) दिनांक ………………. द्वारा संिोजधत
दकए गए थे।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th March, 2026
G.S.R. 202(E).— The following draft of certain rules further to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,
1989, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 110 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 will be taken
into consideration after the expiry 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 in respect of the said draft rules before
the expiry of the aforesaid period will be considered by the Central Government.
Objections and suggestions to these draft rules, if any, may be sent to the Additional Secretary (MVL, Transport
& Road Safety), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110 001
or on the email: comments-morth@gov.in;
Draft Rules
1. Short title and commencement. — (1) These rules may be called the Central Motor Vehicles (……….
Amendment) Rules, 2026.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in these rules, they shall come into force on the date of their final publication
in the Official Gazette.
2. In the said rules, in rule 115, delete sub-rule 115-J.
3. In the said rules, for Rule 125-M, the following text shall be substituted, namely:-
“125-M(A). Type approval of liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen internal combustion engine
vehicles.-
1. The safety and procedural requirements for type approval of internal combustion engine vehicles of M
and N categories powered by liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen shall be in accordance with AIS
195:2023 as amended from time to time.
Provided that the hydrogen fuel specifications for internal combustion engine vehicles shall be in accordance
with IS 16061: 2021.
2. The safety and procedural requirements for type approval of internal combustion engine vehicles of
Construction Equipment Vehicles powered by liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen shall be in
accordance with AIS 195A:2024, as amended from time to time.
Provided that the hydrogen fuel specifications for internal combustion engine vehicles shall be in accordance
with IS 16061: 2021.
125-M(B). Type approval of vehicles running on compressed gaseous hydrogen fuel cell.-4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
1. The safety and procedural requirements for type approval of motor vehicles of Category M and Category
N, running on compressed gaseous hydrogen fuel cell shall be in accordance with AIS 157:2020, as
amended from time to time.
Provided that the hydrogen fuel specification for fuel cell vehicles shall be in accordance with ISO 14687.
2. The safety and procedural requirements for type approval of the Construction Equipment Vehicles
running on compressed gaseous hydrogen fuel cell shall be in accordance with AIS 157 A:2024, as
amended from time to time.
Provided that the hydrogen fuel specification for fuel cell vehicles shall be in accordance with ISO 14687.
3. The safety and procedural requirements for type approval of internal combustion engine and compressed
gaseous hydrogen fuel cell vehicles of Category L powered by liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen
shall be in accordance with AIS 206:2024, as amended from time to time.
Provided that the hydrogen fuel specifications for fuel cell and internal combustion engine vehicles shall be in
accordance with IS 14687 or IS 16061: 2021 as applicable.”
[F. No. RT-11028/02/2026-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.