Lok Sabha Question No. 3178 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Amendment in Motor Vehicle Act
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3178 ANSWERED ON 7 th  AUGUST 2025

Amendment in Motor Vehicle Act

3178. Shri Ujjwal Raman Singh:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  is planning to introduce major amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act keeping in view the safety of  common  citizens,  especially  children  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  proposed  amendment  includes  provisions  for double fine  and  cancellation  of  licence  if  a  driver  violates  traffic rules  while  travelling  with  children  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof;
- and
- (c) whether  the  above-mentioned  rules  would  be  applicable  not only to private vehicles but also to vehicles operated or hired by schools and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (c) The Government accords high priority to road safety, including the safety of children. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, contains  provisions  relating  to  child  safety.  Section  194B provides  for  punishment  in  cases  where  a  motor  vehicle  is driven with a child under the age of fourteen years who is not secured by a safety belt or a child restraint system.

Further,  the  Central  Motor  Vehicles  Rules  (CMVR),  1989, contain the following provisions:

-  As per Rule 125(8), motor vehicles of category Ml (excluding transport and special purpose vehicles), manufactured  on  or  after  1st April,  2015,  must  have provision for installing a child restraint system as specified in AIS:072-2009.
-  As  per  Rule  138(6),  from  1st  April,  2016,  drivers  of  Ml category  vehicles  (manufactured  on  or  after  1st  October, 2014) are required to ensure that children up to 12 years are seated in an appropriate child restraint system.
- The  Government  vide  G.S.R.  126(E)  dated  15 th   February, 2022  mandated  the  use  of  Safety  harness  for  children below four years and crash helmet which fits his head or bicycle helmet complying with standards till such time that the  specifications  are  prescribed  by  the  BIS  for  the  child pillion  passenger  aged  between  nine  months  and  four
-  years.
-  The  Government  has  prescribed  uniform  provisions  for school  buses  with  respect  to  its  construction  in  Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 which are as under:
- (i) G.S.R. 589(E) dated 16-09-2005 prescribes specifications for school  buses  as  per  Automotive Industry Standard (AIS-063).

AIS-063 is applicable for all school buses with a seating capacity of 13 passengers and above excluding driver. The provisions in the standard are over and above the requirements laid for buses in "AIS-052 Code of Practice for Bus Body Design and Approval.

AIS-063  also  specifies  requirements  such  as  uniform colour  of  school  buses,  insignia  design  and  location, emergency exits, seat design and layout, seating capacity, stopping signal, etc.

(ii) G.S.R. 337(E) dated 28-04-2023 notified fire protection systems in occupant compartment in school buses  which  was  implemented  with  effect  from  1st October 2023. (iii) G.S.R. 290(E), dated 15-04-2015 prescribes a speed limit of 60 km/h for all school buses. (iv) Fitness test of school buses are carried out as per Rule 62 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The enforcement of these provisions falls within the purview of the respective State/UT Governments.

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