The Central Government has notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Ninth Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing significant changes to the framework governing type approval and certification of altered, retrofitted and imported motor vehicles under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The amendment substitutes several provisos to Rule 126 and comes into force with immediate effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
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One of the key changes allows altered, retrofitted or adapted motor vehicles to be tested and type-approved by designated testing agencies or self-certified by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or workshops authorised by the State Government, in accordance with Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed thereunder.
The amendment also streamlines the approval process for imported right-hand steering vehicles. Manufacturers importing up to 2,500 units annually of M1 or L category vehicles and up to 500 units of other vehicle categories that comply with European Economic Community (EEC), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) or Japanese standards will be deemed compliant for sale and registration upon furnishing a certificate of compliance issued by an authorised or accredited certifying agency.
Further, manufacturers importing gasoline-powered L and M1 category vehicles will now be required to submit a Type-I exhaust emission compliance report based on E20 reference fuel (IS:17943) along with a declaration regarding material compatibility with E20 fuel, reinforcing India’s transition towards higher ethanol-blended fuels.
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The notification also provides that type approval and certification of agricultural tractors shall be governed by AIS-017 (Part 2) (Rev.2): 2016, while permitting construction equipment vehicles to have steering controls on either side and agricultural tractors to have centrally positioned steering controls on the front or rear.
Additionally, the amendment simplifies the registration process for unused imported right-hand steering vehicles brought into India for personal use, demonstration, testing, research or scientific work, deeming compliance established upon production of a certificate issued by an authorised or accredited certifying agency.
The rules further prescribe that administrative procedures relating to corrigenda, amendments or revisions to Automotive Industry Standards, Type Approval Procedures, Indian Standards and ISO standards shall be governed by AIS-000:2013, and permit prototype truck bodies to be tested and type-approved by engineering colleges or State Road Transport Undertakings approved by the State Government.