Archive · 27 Aug 2026
India Proposes Low-Beam Headlamp Rules From 2027 or 2028
The government wants vehicle lights to be safer for everyone on the road.
Very bright high-beam lights can make it difficult for other drivers to see.
New motorcycles may have to use only low-beam lights when their automatic headlamp system is turned on.
One report gives April 2027 as the possible start date, but a draft government notice says April 1, 2028.
The government also wants to reduce how bright motorcycle and car headlights can be.
It may limit how blue or white headlamps and fog lamps can appear.
Buses and other large vehicles may need reflective tape so they are easier to see at night.
These are proposals and have not yet been confirmed as final rules.
The Union government is considering tighter vehicle-lighting rules to reduce glare and improve road safety.
New two-wheelers could be required to keep automatic headlamps in passing-beam, or low-beam, mode.
One report says the proposed low-beam requirement could begin in April 2027, while a draft notification cited April 1, 2028.
Maximum headlamp intensity could fall to 100,000 candela for two-wheelers and 150,000 candela for cars.
The proposals could cap colour temperature at 6,500 Kelvin and require reflective tapes on buses and other heavy vehicles.
- Who
- The Union government, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, proposed the changes.
- What
- Draft amendments could require automatic headlamps on new two-wheelers to operate only in low-beam mode and could tighten vehicle-lighting standards.
- When
- The proposed requirement is reported as potentially starting in April 2027; a draft notification cited April 1, 2028.
- Where
- The changes would apply under India’s Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
- Why
- To reduce glare, improve the vision of other road users, and improve road safety, especially at night and in poor weather.
- Automatic headlamp setting
- New two-wheelers could be required to use passing-beam, or low-beam, mode when the automatic system is active.
- Possible effective date
- One report says April 2027; the draft notification cited April 1, 2028.
- Two-wheeler intensity limit
- Could be reduced from 150,000 candela to 100,000 candela.
- Four-wheeler intensity limit
- Could be reduced from 225,000 candela to 150,000 candela.
- Colour-temperature ceiling
- Vehicle headlamps and fog lamps could be limited to 6,500 Kelvin.
- Heavy-vehicle visibility
- Buses and other heavy vehicles could be required to use genuine reflective tapes.
