MoRTH draft makes Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) mandatory in all new car models from Oct 2030

25 October 2026 · English Science & Technology

Topics: Agriculture, Infrastructure & Governance · 25 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification on 19 Oct 2026 amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) will be mandatory in M1 (passenger car) vehicles – for new models from 1 Oct 2030 and for all models in production from 1 Oct 2032. From 1 Oct 2028, M1 and N1 vehicles fitted with AEBS must conform to AIS-185. Public comments are invited within 30 days.

Key facts

Draft	19 Oct 2026 – MoRTH; amends Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989
Timeline	New models: 1 Oct 2030; all models: 1 Oct 2032
Standard	AIS-185 (M1, N1 fitted with AEBS – from 1 Oct 2028)
Categories	M1 – passenger vehicle up to 8 seats besides driver; N1 – goods vehicle up to 3.5 t
Other ADAS	Emergency lane keeping, driver drowsiness warning – transport M1 vehicles from 1 Oct 2029
Trucks	Electronic Stability Control (ESC, AIS-162) – from 1 Oct 2027

Background

What AEBS is: using radar/camera sensors it detects a vehicle or obstacle ahead and, if the driver fails to brake in time, brakes automatically to avoid a crash or reduce its impact. It belongs to the family of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).
Law: Motor Vehicles Act 1988 (the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 are made under it); the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 – higher penalties, protection of Good Samaritans (Sec 134A), recall of defective vehicles, National Road Safety Board.
Safety standards: Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) – announced Aug 2023, in force from 1 Oct 2023; 1–5 star rating from crash tests for M1 vehicles up to 3.5 t (adult, child occupant protection, safety assist technologies). Emissions: India jumped from BS-IV directly to BS-VI (1 Apr 2020) – modelled on European 'Euro' norms.
Road accidents (MoRTH 'Road Accidents in India 2023'): 4,80,583 accidents, 1,72,890 deaths; highest deaths – Uttar Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu link: Tamil Nadu recorded the most road accidents in India in 2023 – 67,213 (about 14% of the total), and also topped accidents on National Highways (MoRTH report). Chennai is called the 'Detroit of Asia' for automobile manufacturing, so new standards such as AEBS directly affect the Chennai–Sriperumbudur auto industry.

Source: ThePrint (PTI), Business Today, 23 Oct 2026; MoRTH 'Road Accidents in India 2023' (DT Next, CAG); Drishti IAS (Bharat NCAP)

Join our UPSC classroom or online batch: UPSC coaching in Coimbatore · Fees · Call 99941 46662.

📘 Study this subject fully

SSC CGL 2026 – History & Culture of India (Tier I + Tier II) – ₹149

SSC CGL 2026 – Indian Polity & Governance (Tier I + Tier II) – ₹149