In response to recent media reports, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has clarified the regulations concerning Accredited Driver Training Centres (ADTC) and driving schools. The Ministry affirmed that the provisions outlined in Rules 31B to 31J, which were added to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989 through GSR 394(E) on June 7, 2021, took effect from July 1, 2021. No changes to these regulations are planned from June 1, 2024.
Section 12 of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, 1988, which governs the licensing and regulation of driving schools, was updated by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. This amendment introduced subsections (5) and (6) for schools accredited by bodies notified by the Central Government.
Accreditation for ADTCs can be granted by the State Transport Authority or any authorized agency notified by the Central Government, based on recommendations from testing agencies referred to in Rule 126 of CMVR, 1989. Successful completion of a course at an ADTC, certified by Form 5B (as per sub-rule (iii) of Rule 31E of CMVR, 1989), exempts certificate holders from the driving test requirement under the proviso to sub-rule (2) of Rule 15 of CMVR, 1989.
Driving schools established under Rule 24 of CMVR, 1989, which have less stringent requirements than ADTCs, also issue completion certificates (Form 5) as per sub-rule (d) of Rule 27 of CMVR, 1989. However, these certificates do not exempt holders from the driving test requirement.
Applications for driving licenses under Rule 14 of CMVR, 1989, must be accompanied by either Form 5 or Form 5B, as applicable. Regardless of the exemptions mentioned, the authority to issue driving licenses remains with the licensing authority.
