Lok Sabha Question No. 91 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: National Design Standards for Trucks
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the  suitability  of  current  designs  of  trucks  and  heavy-transport vehicles in the country to operate safely at the prescribed speed limits, particularly under full load conditions on National Highways and Expressways;
- (b)  if  so,  the  findings  of  such  assessments  with  respect  to existing  truck  models'  engine  power,  braking  systems,  axle configurations,  stability  and  on-road  performance  compared  to prescribed speed and axle load standards;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to upgrade national design standards  for  trucks  to  improve  safety,  fuel  efficiency,  brake reliability  and  high-speed  performance  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d)  the  steps  being  taken  to  promote  adoption  of  modern  truck technology including incentives for fleet modernization, scrappage and adoption of advanced safety systems?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 91

ANSWERED ON 5 th  FEBRUARY, 2026

## NATIONAL DESIGN STANDARDS FOR TRUCKS

*91. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *91  FOR  ANSWER  ON  5 th FEBRUARY,  2026  ASKED  BY  SHRI  RAHUL  KASWAN  REGARDING NATIONAL DESIGN STANDARDS FOR TRUCKS.

(a) to (b) Based on the assessment of the construction, function and safety requirements of motor vehicles, Government undertakes periodic review of design items such as braking, axle loads, dimensions,  fuel  efficiency,  speed  limits,  etc.  in  respect  of  medium and  heavy-duty  goods  vehicle  by  formulating  Automotive  Industry Standards (AIS) and framing of Rules under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,  1989.  This  exercise  is  carried  out  through  the  Automotive Industry  Standards  Committee  (AISC)  and  the  Central  Motor  Vehicle Rules Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC) from time to time.

The maximum speed limit for a goods vehicle is limited to 80 Kmph on Expressways and 4-lane and above carriageways with medians. This is limited to 60 kmph for roads within Municipal limits and other roads. Further, for trucks carrying dangerous goods, the speed is limited to 60kmph.

Goods vehicle is required to undergo a truck cabin structural strength test.

The goods vehicles, manufactured on and after 01 st  April 2020, except for puller tractors for trailers, are required to be fitted with a reverse parking alert system complying with the requirements of AIS145:2017. The  trucks  are  required  to  be  fitted  with  a  reflective  tape across the width of the body in accordance with the requirements of AIS:090-2005.

The  trucks  are  required  to  be  fitted  with  Rear  under  run  protective device and a lateral under-run protective device in accordance with IS: 14812 and IS:14862, respectively.

- (c) Some of the steps taken in this regard are as follows:
- i. To  enhance  evaluation  of  brake  performance-  revised  braking standard (IS  11852  2019)  has  been  mandated  [vide GSR  834(E) dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f 01st Oct 2027. Earlier, the said standard was applicable to buses built by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) only.

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- ii. Braking systems have been advanced with mandatory implementation of electronic stability control systems  (AIS 162) [vide GSR 834(E) dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f 01st Oct 2027 which provide stability specially in the event of braking at curves.
- iii. Further  Advanced  Emergency  Braking  System  (AIS  162)  w.e.f 01st  Oct  2027 has  been  made  mandatory  which  provides  for automatic  braking  in  event  of  failure  of  driver  to  respond  to emergency  situations  to  either  avoid  crash  with  obstacles  in front or reduce the impact of crash.
- iv. Advanced  driver  assistance  technologies  such  as  Blind  Spot Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information System(AIS  187)  w.e.f  01st  January  2028,  have  been  made mandatory which will enhance safety of vulnerable road users.
4. To  mitigate  the  impact  of  the  dangerous  situation  of  a  driver falling  asleep  and  thus  the  vehicle losing  the  desired  course  of movement,  systems  such  as  Driver  Drowsiness  Detection  and Alert  system  has  been  mandated  (AIS  184) w.e.f  01st  January 2028.  Additionally,  the  lane  departure  warning  system(AIS  188) has been made mandatory w.e.f 01st January 2028 which gives a warning  in  the  event  of  vehicle  deviating  from  the  expected
- v. course of movement.
- vi. To  reduce  driver  fatigue,  mandatory  Fitment  of  AC  in  truck cabins has been mandated under CMVR w.e.f 01st October 2025.
- vii. Fuel efficiency norms have been notified [vide G.S.R 844(E) dated 22 nd   November,  2022]  in  respect  of  Medium  and  heavy-duty vehicles, to improve fuel economy.
8. (d) Government has introduced the Voluntary Vehicle fleet Modernisation Program (V-VMP) for  scrappage of end-of-life vehicles. Incentives  in  the  form  of  a  reduction  in  road  tax  in  exchange  of certificate of deposit issued against scrapping the end-of-life vehicle, by the authorised scrappage centres, are being provided.

The  following  incentives  are  provided  under  the  V-VMP  for  fleet modernisation: -

(i)    GSR  714  (E)  dated  04.10.2021  provides  that,  in  case  the vehicle is registered on submission of 'Certificate of Deposit', the fee for issue of certificate of registration shall not be levied. (ii)  GSR 720 (E) dated 05.10.2021 provides for concession in the motor  vehicle  tax  (upto  twenty  five  per  cent.,  in  case  of  nontransport vehicles and upto fifteen per cent, in case of transport vehicles) for the vehicle registered against submission of "Certificate  of  deposit".   Provided  that  this  concession  shall  be available upto eight years, in case of transport vehicles, and upto fifteen years, in case of non-transport vehicles. (iii)  GSR 200 (E) dated 26.03.2025 provides for concession in the motor vehicle tax of up to fifty percent against such certificate for all transport and non-transport vehicles which are manufactured  as  per  Mass  Emission  Standards  Bharat  Stage  I (BS-I)  norms  and  earlier  Mass  Emission  Standard  norms  and  all medium  and  heavy  goods  motor  vehicles  and  all  medium  and heavy passenger motor vehicles which are manufactured as per Mass Emission Standards Bharat Stage II (BS-II) norms.

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