New driving license rules to simplify process and enhance road safety, click to know
New Delhi: In a bid to overhaul the cumbersome process of obtaining a driver’s license in India and enhance road safety measures, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced significant reforms set to come into effect from June 1, 2024. These reforms aim to streamline the process, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and ensure better-trained drivers on Indian roads.
Key Highlights of the Revised Regulations:
1. Driving tests at accredited private schools: The traditional mandatory driving test at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) will be replaced by the option to take the test at authorized private driving schools. Upon successful completion, candidates will receive a certificate, eliminating the need for further testing at the RTO.
2. Stricter penalties: The new rules introduce stricter penalties for driving without a valid license, with fines now reaching up to ₹2,000. Minors caught driving will face more severe penalties, including a ₹25,000 fine, potential action against parents, and cancellation of the vehicle’s registration certificate.
3. Eco-friendly initiatives: The MoRTH is implementing eco-friendly measures to reduce vehicular pollution and promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption. This includes phasing out 9,000 outdated government vehicles and raising emission standards as part of broader environmental efforts.
4. Simplified application process: The paperwork required for applying for a driver’s license has been simplified. Additionally, the Ministry has announced a revised fee structure for various types of licenses, effective June 1, 2024.
Revised fee structure:
- Learner’s license: ₹200
- Learner’s license renewal: ₹200
- International license: ₹1,000
- Permanent license: ₹200
- Permanent license renewal: ₹200
- Issue of a renewed driver’s license: ₹200
How to apply for a license online:
The introduction of an online platform has made the application process more convenient for applicants. Here are the steps to apply for a license online:
1. Visit https://sarathi.parivahan.gov.in/.
2. Select the concerned state.
3. Click on “New Driving Licence” from the “Driving Licence” menu.
4. Enter your “Learning Licence Number” and “Date of Birth” to proceed.
5. Fill out the application form.
6. Click on the next button to proceed.
7. Visit RTO on the scheduled date with the original documents and fee slip.
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Delhi court acquits activist Medha Patkar in defamation case filed by LG V K Saxena
New Delhi (PTI): A court here on Saturday acquitted social activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case filed by Delhi L-G V K Saxena, saying the prosecution failed to prove that she made the alleged defamatory statements during a television programme in 2006.
The complaint was filed by Saxena, then president of the National Council for Civil Liberties, alleging that Patkar had defamed him during a TV programme.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Raghav Sharma, while hearing the case, said the complainant had failed to produce legally admissible evidence to establish that Patkar had made the impugned statements.
According to the complaint, Patkar had allegedly claimed during the programme that Saxena and his NGO had received civil contracts connected with the Sardar Sarovar project, an allegation Saxena denied and termed defamatory.
The court said the material on record showed that Patkar was not a panellist on the programme and that only a short pre-recorded video clip of her was played during the telecast.
"It is important to note that neither the reporter who actually recorded the audio-video nor any person who had seen the accused making the impugned statements has been examined as a witness.
"It is also crucial to note that the clip played in the programme/show appears to be only a very short clipping from an interview or press conference of the accused," the judge said.
The court noted that to establish anything in the case, it is essential to produce the entire video and audio of the press conference before the court about the alleged defamatory remarks given by the accused.
"Without examining the entire clip or footage of that interview, no determination can be made regarding the speech of the accused," the judge said.
The court said that Saxena failed to place on record the original video footage or the recording device that allegedly captured the defamatory remarks, and as a result, the statements attributed to Patkar could not be established.
"The only document capable of proving that the accused made the impugned statements would be the original electronic device in which such statements were recorded," the court said, adding that neither the device nor a valid secondary copy was placed on record.
The case was filed before a court in Ahmedabad. It was transferred to Delhi in 2010 on the orders of the Supreme Court.
In the absence of legally admissible evidence proving publication of defamatory statements by Patkar, the court acquitted her of the charge under IPC Section 500 (defamation).
In August 2025, in a separate defamation case filed by VK Saxena, the Supreme Court confirmed Patkar's conviction ordered by the trial court and set aside a penalty of Rs 1 lakh imposed on her in the case.
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