Archive · 24 Aug 2026
India Proposes Stricter Headlight Rules for Vehicles From April
The Indian government has suggested new rules for vehicle headlights.
These rules are meant to reduce bright light that can temporarily blind other drivers.
New two-wheelers would keep their automatic headlights on low beam.
Very powerful headlights would have lower brightness limits for bikes and cars.
Headlights would also have a maximum colour temperature.
Cars might remind drivers to switch from high beam to low beam in cities.
The reminder would not sound for highway driving above 60 kmph.
Buses and heavy vehicles would use reflective tape to be easier to see at night.
India’s road transport ministry has proposed stricter vehicle-lighting rules through draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Automatic headlights on new two-wheelers would operate only on low beam, rather than switching between low and high beam.
Maximum high-intensity headlamp limits would fall to 100,000 candela for two-wheelers and 150,000 candela for four-wheelers.
Headlamp colour temperature would be capped at 6,500 Kelvin, while buses and heavy vehicles would need genuine reflective tapes.
Cars could warn drivers using high beam in urban areas, though the alert would not activate above 60 kmph on highways.
- Who
- India’s road transport ministry proposed the draft amendments, affecting drivers, vehicle manufacturers, buses, and heavy vehicles.
- What
- The proposal would restrict automatic two-wheeler headlights to low beam and introduce stricter brightness, colour, warning, and visibility requirements.
- When
- The changes are proposed to begin from next April, meaning April 2027 based on the article’s August 2026 publication date.
- Where
- The proposed rules would apply in India, with the high-beam warning focused on urban roads and exempting certain highway driving.
- Why
- The measures aim to reduce headlight glare, improve visibility, and lower the risk of night-time crashes.
- Proposal status
- Draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules; the changes are proposed, not yet presented as final rules.
- Automatic headlights
- New two-wheelers would use automatic headlights only in passing-beam, or low-beam, mode.
- Two-wheeler intensity limit
- The proposed maximum would fall from 150,000 candela to 100,000 candela.
- Four-wheeler intensity limit
- The proposed maximum would fall from 225,000 candela to 150,000 candela.
- Colour temperature
- The proposed maximum for headlamps and front fog lamps is 6,500 Kelvin.
- High-beam alert
- Cars could warn drivers to return to low beam in urban conditions; the alert would not operate above 60 kmph on highways.
- Heavy-vehicle visibility
- Buses and other heavy vehicles would be required to use genuine reflective tapes.