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Updated - October 23, 2026 10:34 pm IST - NEW DELHI
Road Transport Ministry has proposed raising the qualifying threshold for the safe-driving tutorial assessment from 60-75%, alongside a fee waiver for select online driving licence services completed via Aadhaar authentication. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Union government has proposed changes to driving licence rules that could make the learner’s test more rigorous while moving several services online and making some of them free.
The draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, propose raising the pass mark for the preliminary learners test from 60% to 75%. Applicants will get 15 days, instead of seven, to complete the learner’s licence process, and will have to take a safe-driving tutorial of at least 30 minutes.
Applicants will have to submit separate proof of address, age and identity. The list of acceptable documents will include Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, e-ration card and certain government-issued identity documents. Electricity and household gas bills issued within the past three months can also be used as address proof.
Foreign applicants should show that they are legally present in India. A new Form 2A is proposed to bring together applications for licence renewal, duplicate licences, changes to names or addresses, updates to personal details and the addition of vehicle categories.
The draft proposes no fee for changing a licence holder’s name, address or other recorded details.
As per the draft amendments, applicants will have to provide more medical information, including whether they have epilepsy or other seizure disorders, hearing impairment, night blindness, medicine allergies or medical and surgical implants. As per the draft, people who report epilepsy or a seizure disorder, along with a seizure in the previous three years, or who are under anti-epileptic medication at present or are on a tapering course of that medication, will not be eligible for driving licence.
The rules say that details about medicine allergies, implants and certain other medical information will be used only if the person is hospitalised after a road accident.
The draft also proposes collecting information such as blood group, emergency contact details in licence applications.
The draft was put up on the government’s e-Gazette website earlier this week. The Centre has invited feedback from the public and other stakeholders within 30 days, after which the matter will be taken up for consideration.
Published - October 23, 2026 04:55 pm IST
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