Nitin Gadkari says driving licence, vehicle RC may be suspended for repeated traffic violations under negative points system

Union minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said his ministry is working on a new system that would deduct points from a driver's licence and a vehicle's registration certificate for every traffic offence committed, with repeated violations potentially leading to suspension or cancellation of both documents.

Gadkari made the announcement while speaking at the 66th SIAM Annual Convention 2026, where he laid out a series of upcoming changes aimed at improving road safety and driver accountability across the country.

How the negative points system would work


Under the proposed framework, every traffic offence committed by a driver or vehicle owner would result in a deduction of points from their licence and RC. Once a person crosses a specified limit of deducted points, authorities would have the power to suspend or cancel the licence altogether.

"My ministry is planning to introduce graded point system in driving licences and vehicle registration certificate," Gadkari said. "Every offense will cut points on the driving licence. And after a particular limit, the licence will get suspended or even cancelled."

The minister said the system is designed to separate drivers who maintain a clean, responsible record from those who repeatedly break traffic rules. Those with good records could be eligible for incentives, including possible benefits from insurance companies, while habitual offenders would face escalating consequences.

"This is exactly the people who have good points, they will get incentives from insurance or companies or whatever benefits will be there. But those who are habitually making mistakes, the penalty is there. That is the principle behind this policy," he said.

Training centres to address driver behaviour

Gadkari linked the proposed points system to a broader push to fix poor driving habits, calling driver behaviour "a big problem" on Indian roads. He said the ministry plans to set up 1,600 driving training centres across the country, of which 24 are already operational and 112 more are in the pipeline. Around 10 lakh drivers have already received training at these centres.

He also stressed the need for accountability, saying repeat offenders cannot be allowed to keep driving dangerously without facing consequences. "Somewhere, we have to challenge the people where this misdeed is responsible for the consequences," he said.

Bharat NCAP 2.0 and emission control device

Separately, Gadkari announced that the government will roll out Bharat NCAP 2.0 from October 2027, under which the entire safety chain of a vehicle will be evaluated as part of efforts to address India's high number of road accidents. He noted that India is currently the world's third-largest passenger vehicle market, and that vehicle testing here costs considerably less than the global NCAP benchmark of Rs 2.5 crore.

He also announced plans for a new emission-control device for older BS IV vehicles, priced at around Rs 4,000-5,000. According to Gadkari, trials for the device have been completed, and emissions after retrofitment reportedly matched BS VI levels.

Scale of India's road accident problem

Gadkari pointed to the scale of the road safety challenge facing the country, stating that India records around five lakh road accidents every year, resulting in approximately 1.80 lakh deaths. He added that most of those killed are between 18 and 36 years of age.

"This is a very problematic situation for the country. At any cost, these numbers have to be reduced," Gadkari said, adding that the government intends to evaluate the entire value chain of a crash, incorporating new technologies, including those developed by Indian startups.

(With TOI inputs)