Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 prescribe technical standards and type approval requirements for various categories of motor vehicles operating on Indian roads. Rule 125-F of these Rules governs the type approval framework for road ambulances falling under vehicle Categories L and M. The existing rule has been in place since the ambulance code was originally notified, with AIS 125 (Part 1)-2014 serving as the governing automotive industry standard for ambulance specifications. With the growing adoption of electric vehicles across vehicle categories and the consequent increase in electric ambulances in the fleet, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has identified a regulatory gap: the existing rule does not address the specific technical requirements for pure electric road ambulances, particularly with regard to the power supply arrangement for on-board medical devices, which is critical to their operational safety and clinical effectiveness.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has published a draft notification dated May 14, 2026 through G.S.R. 382(E), proposing to substitute the existing Rule 125-F of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 with the following:

“125-F. Type Approval of Road Ambulances of Vehicle Categories L and M.—

1. Road Ambulances of categories L and M manufactured on and after 1st April 2018, shall be in accordance with AIS 125 (Part 1)-2014, as amended from time to time, for all ambulances specified therein.
2. Road ambulances of category M of Type B, Type C and Type D, manufactured on and after three months from the date of the final notification, shall be equipped with emergency and safety/rescue equipment as specified in AIS 125 (Part 1), as amended from time to time.
3. All Pure Electric Road Ambulances (E-Ambulances), manufactured on and after 1st October 2026, shall be equipped with additional batteries to power the medical devices carried on board. The specifications of additional batteries shall be as specified in AIS 125 (Part 1), as amended from time to time.”

Objections and suggestions may be submitted within 30 days of the date of publication to the Additional Secretary (MVL, Transport & Road Safety), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001 or by email at comments-morth@gov.in.