New driving license rules in India from June 2024

Effective June 1st, 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport has set in place new rules for the issuance of driving licenses in India where the motor training schools have been empowered to conduct the driving test.

Driving license new rules

The new rules are aimed at making things simpler for people and streamlining the process involved in applying for and obtaining a driving license. It has also made provisions tougher for driving without a valid driving license, with financial penalties ranging from Rs 2000 to Rs 25000. Also, if a minor is caught at the wheels of a car without a valid driving license, the parents may face prosecution and the registration of the car may be cancelled. In such cases, additionally, the minor will not be eligible for a driving license till the age of 25 years.

The other new rules are as below:

1. It is no longer compulsory for an applicant for a driving license to take the driving test at the RTO premises. Private driving schools have been given the authority to conduct driving tests. So far driving schools have only been involved in the process of training drivers and used to render assistance to the drivers in the process of application for a permanent driving license. Once an authorised private driving school certifies the applicant as having passed the driving test, the driving license will continue to be issued by the RTO and will be sent to the address of the applicant. You may apply for the driving license online at the Parivahan site or may apply physically at the RTO office.

2. The new license rules have also mandated certain requirements for driving training schools to be eligible to conduct driving tests:

• The training school must have suitable infrastructure for training and carrying out testing and must have at least 2 acres of land for 4-wheelers.

• Trainers need to be qualified with a bare minimum high school or equivalent educational qualification. They need to have a minimum of 5 years of driving experience and be familiar with IT and biometric systems.

• Training will be for 29 hours spread over 4 weeks, including 8 hours of theory overall for applicants for an LMV license and for 38 hours spread over 6 weeks including 8 hours of theory overall for applicants for an HMV license.

Types of driving license

A driving license is a mandatory document like car insurance for driving a car. There are different types of driving licences in India:

1. Learner license while learning to drive a car before getting a permanent license or a commercial license.

2. Permanent driving license to drive a car or two-wheeler, but not any vehicle which is hired out. A permanent driving license is usually issued with a validity of 20 years or until the license holder is of the age of 50 years.

3. A commercial driving license is for anyone who drives a commercial vehicle and needs to be renewed every 3 years.

4. An international driving license is for those who wish to drive abroad and is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.

Conclusion

The new driving license rules allowing private motor training centres to conduct the test for driving licenses are not mandatory – you may still appear for the test at the RTO premises. Although the rules have been framed keeping in mind the overall convenience of applicants, the conditions relating to land of 2 acres are difficult to comply with in metropolitan and urban settings. Hopefully in the long term such conditions will be met and the benefits will percolate as planned.