Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the government has extended the validity of motor vehicle documents like driving licence (DL), registration certificate (RC) and permits till 30 June 2021.
“Taking into consideration the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19, MORTH has advised State and UT Govts that the Fitness, Permit (all types), License, Registration or any other concerned document(s) may be treated to be valid till 30 June 2021,” Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said.
In an advisory to states, MoRTH said it is extending the validity of fitness, permit, driving licence, registration and other documents whose extension of validity could not be granted due to lockdown and which had expired since 1 February 2020, or would expire by 31 March 2021.
It had earlier issued advisories dated 30 March 2020, 9 June 2020, 24 August 2020, and 27 December 2020, in connection with the extension of validity of documents related to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
Tests for driving licence likely to get stricter in India
Acquiring a driving licence in many Indian states may currently be more of a formality than a test. However, that may change soon. Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Minister Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to Lok Sabha has claimed that the driving test will soon become much more stringent.
The tests will also judge the driver’s specific skills for instance reversing a vehicle in tight spots with reasonable accuracy. The Minister also claimed that the passing percentage for driving tests may be fixed at 69% for all regional transport offices (RTOs).
Certain services regarding Driving Licence and Certificate of Registration have been made completely online. Now, these services can be availed without going to the regional transport offices (RTO). The move has been made to avoid the rush at the transport offices across the nation.
The use of Aadhaar as an identity document would bring in transparency and efficiency. It would also enable applicants to get their work done directly in a seamless manner.
The development has come after the transport ministry issued a draft notification for linking a driving licence with an Aadhaar card.
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