The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), on March 20, 2026, issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days. The draft aims to introduce a regulatory framework for vehicles powered by hydrogen fuels, reflecting advancements in clean mobility technologies.
The proposed amendments include deletion of sub-rule 115-J and substitution of Rule 125-M to prescribe detailed safety and procedural requirements for type approval of vehicles running on liquid or compressed gaseous hydrogen, including internal combustion engine vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles across different categories (M, N, L, and construction equipment vehicles). The standards reference Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) and fuel specifications such as IS 16061:2021 and ISO 14687 to ensure safety and uniformity.
These draft rules are intended to facilitate adoption of hydrogen-based vehicles while ensuring compliance with safety norms. Stakeholders may submit their objections or suggestions to the Ministry before finalization, after which the rules will come into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 202(E)]
