**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued notification S.O. 3679(E) on July 6, 2026, exempting specific eco-friendly transport vehicles from permit requirements under Section 66(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This exemption is effective for seven years from the date of publication and supersedes the previous notification dated October 18, 2018. All exempted vehicles must comply with mandatory tracking device specifications.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Exemptions and Duration**
* Transport vehicles used for carrying goods or passengers that run on specific alternative fuels are exempt from Section 66(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
* The exemption is valid for a fixed period of seven years starting from the date of this notification’s publication.
* This order supersedes the previous Government of India notification S.O. 5333 (E) dated October 18, 2018.
**Applicable Vehicle Categories**
* Battery-operated vehicles as defined in Rule 2(u) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
* Vehicles driven by methanol fuel.
* Vehicles driven by ethanol fuel.
* Vehicles driven by hydrogen fuel.
**Mandatory Technical Requirements**
* All eligible vehicles must be fitted with a vehicle location tracking device.
* Tracking devices must strictly comply with AIS-140 specifications and any subsequent amendments.
**Impact Analysis**
**Owners and Operators of Alternative Fuel Transport Vehicles**
**Impact**
They are relieved from the legal requirement to obtain or hold permits under Section 66(1) for a period of seven years, potentially reducing administrative burdens and costs for operating green-fuel vehicles.
**Action Required**
Must ensure all such vehicles are equipped with functional vehicle location tracking devices that meet AIS-140 standards.
**Transport Authorities and Law Enforcement**
**Impact**
Regulatory and enforcement frameworks must be adjusted to recognize the permit exemption for the four specified categories of transport vehicles.
**Action Required**
Shift focus from permit verification to ensuring these vehicles comply with the AIS-140 tracking device mandate.
**Manufacturers of Green-Fuel Vehicles**
**Impact**
Increased marketability of battery-operated, methanol, ethanol, and hydrogen vehicles due to the removal of permit-related regulatory hurdles.
**Action Required**
Ensure new vehicles in these categories are manufactured or retrofitted with AIS-140 compliant tracking systems as a standard feature.
Key Entities Referenced
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: The primary legislation under which the Central Government exercises powers to exempt specific transport vehicles from permit requirements under Section 66.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The nodal ministry responsible for issuing this notification and regulating road transport standards and vehicle exemptions in India.
AIS-140: The specific Automotive Industry Standard for vehicle location tracking devices that exempted vehicles must comply with.
Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: The regulatory framework referenced to provide legal definitions for categories like battery-operated vehicles.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-08072026-274252
CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D8H0x7x2x0 26-274252
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 3517] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आर्ाढ 16, 1948 25/आर्ाढ़ 3, 1947
No. 3517] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948 SHADHA 3, 1947
सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग गमत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 6 िुलाई, 2026
का.आ. 3679(अ).—केन्द्रीय सरकार, मोटर यान अजधजनयम, 1988 (1988 का 59) की धारा 66 की उपधारा
(3) के खंड (ढ) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए और भारत सरकार के सड़क पररवहन और रािमाग ग मंत्रालय की
अजधसूचना संखयांक का. आ. 5333 (अ), तारीख 18 अक्टूबर, 2018 का अजधक्रमण करत े हुए, यह आिेि करती ह ै दक
उि अजधजनयम की धारा 66 की उपधारा (1) के उपबंध इस अजधसूचना के प्रकािन की तारीख से सात वर्ग की अवजध
तक, यथाजस्ट्थजत, माल या यात्री वहन के प्रयोिनों के जलए प्रयिु या प्रयुि दकए िाने वाले जनम्नजलजखत प्रकार के पररवहन
यानों के संबंध म ेंलागू नहीं होंग,े अथागत ्ः-
“(i) केंरीय मोटर यान जनयम 1989 के जनयम 2 के खडं (प) के अधीन यथा पररभाजर्त कोई बैरी प्रचाजलत यान्ः
(ii) मैथनॉल ईंधन से चाजलत कोई यान;
(iii) एथेनॉल ईंधन से चाजलत कोई यान; और
(iv) हाइड्रोिन ईंधन स ेचाजलत कोई यान।
उपरोि मि (i) स े मि (iv) म ें जवजनर्िगष्ट यानों को समय-समय पर यथा संिोजधत एआईएस-140 म ें दिए गए
जवजनिेिों के अनपु ालन में दकसी यान अवजस्ट्थजत रैककंग युजि के साथ सजित दकया िाएगा।"
[फा. स.ं आरटी-11036/80/2012-एमवीएल (भाग-4)]
महमूि अहमि, अपर सजचव
5089 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 6th July, 2026
S.O. 3679(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (n) of sub-section (3) of section 66 of the
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988), and in supersession of the notification of the Government of India in the
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, vide number S.O. 5333 (E) dated the 18th October, 2018, the Central
Government hereby orders that, for a period of seven years from the date of publication of this notification, the
provisions of sub-section (1) of section 66 of the said Act shall not apply to the following types of transport vehicles
used, or to be used, for the purpose of carriage of goods or passengers as the case may be, namely:-
“(i) a Battery-Operated Vehicle as defined under clause (u) of rule 2 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,
1989;
(ii) a vehicle driven on methanol fuel;
(iii) a vehicle driven on ethanol fuel; and
(iv) a vehicle driven on Hydrogen fuel.
The vehicles specified in items (i) to (iv) above shall be fitted with a vehicle location tracking device
complying with the specifications given in AIS-140, as amended from time to time”.
[F. No. RT-11036/80/2012-MVL(Part-IV)]
MAHMOOD AHMED, Addl. Secy.
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.