The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), on August 21, 2026, issued draft rules proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, with the amendments, unless otherwise provided, proposed to come into force from October 1, 2026. The draft proposes to revise the definition of a “Battery Operated Vehicle”, particularly prescribing conditions under which certain two-wheeled battery-operated vehicles would not be treated as motor vehicles for the purposes of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Under the proposed amendment, a qualifying two-wheeled battery-operated vehicle must have an electric motor with thirty-minute power below 0.6 kW, a maximum speed of less than 25 km/h, suitable brakes and specified retro-reflective devices. For pedal-assisted vehicles, the motor must additionally progressively reduce and ultimately cut off its output at 25 km/h or earlier if pedalling stops. The vehicle must also comply with the safety requirements under Annex A of AIS-049 (Rev. 1), with verification based on AIS-041 (Rev. 1).
The draft further proposes amendments to Rule 125-N, replacing item (i) of its proviso with the requirement that the vehicle be equipped with an electric motor having thirty-minute power below 0.6 kW, while item (iv) would be omitted. Objections and suggestions may be submitted to MoRTH within 30 days from the date the Gazette notification is made available to the public.
[G.S.R. 760(E)]
