New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed new amendments to the Automotive Industry Standard AIS-125 to improve the safety, functionality and medical preparedness of road ambulances across India. The draft changes aim to make ambulances better equipped for emergency response, patient care and accident rescue operations.
The proposed amendments introduce specialised ambulance categories, including Neonatal Road Ambulances for transporting sick or premature newborns between hospitals, and Multi-Stretcher Road Ambulances designed to carry multiple patients while providing intensive care support to one patient at a time.
A major addition is the requirement for mandatory emergency and rescue equipment in Class B, C and D ambulances. These tools are intended to help rescue teams extract accident victims from damaged vehicles and also provide support if the ambulance itself is involved in a crash.
The draft also makes provisions for e-ambulances, requiring them to have dedicated power sources for operating medical equipment. This is aimed at supporting green mobility without compromising critical patient care during transit.
MoRTH said ambulances play a crucial role in saving lives, especially in road accident cases where timely medical intervention can make the difference between life and death. The ministry noted that studies indicate nearly 50% of road accident deaths can be prevented if victims receive hospital care within the first hour.
The amendments also link ambulance medical devices with specified safety and performance standards under AIS-125 Part 2. AIS-125 Part 1 was originally notified in 2016 to define constructional and functional requirements for road ambulances, while Part 2 laid down medical equipment guidelines for different ambulance categories.
The draft notification, GSR 382(E), dated May 14, 2026, has been uploaded on the ministry’s website for public comments. The final rules will come into effect from the date specified in the final notification.
With the new norms, India’s ambulance ecosystem could move closer to a more specialised and safety-focused emergency care model—where the ambulance is not just a transport vehicle, but a properly equipped mobile medical response unit.
