The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification on April 27, 2026, proposing changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The draft has been published in the Gazette of India for public review. The government has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days from the date the notification is made available.
Changes to Vehicle Weight Category
One of the proposed amendments includes revising the gross vehicle weight threshold in certain categories. The limit has been increased from 3000 kg to 3500 kg in the relevant table under Rule 115.
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Updates to Fuel Definitions
The draft proposes revisions to fuel-related terminology and classifications:
- References to HCNG have been corrected to specify “Hydrogen + CNG”.
- Gasoline fuel norms have been updated from E10 to include E20.
- Ethanol-based fuels now include E85 as well as E100.
- Biodiesel references have been updated from B10 to B100.
These changes reflect updates in fuel categories used in emission and compliance tables.
Revisions in Emission and Technical Parameters
The notification also includes technical corrections and updates:
- Changes in emission-related abbreviations such as NMHC and methane references.
- Modifications in testing cycle values, including an increase in a specific parameter from 60 to 600.
- Minor textual corrections in terminology used in notes and tables.
Elctrik Speaks
The draft focuses on updating existing rules to align with current fuel types and technical standards. The inclusion of higher ethanol and biodiesel blends, along with corrections in emission references, indicates a shift in regulatory alignment with evolving fuel usage and vehicle technologies.