The Central Government has issued a new notification for the new color scheme of vehicle number plates in India. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) released this update on 16 July 2020 to remove any ambiguity about the number plates of vehicles. In the new scheme, battery-powered vehicles will continue to display alpha digits in yellow with a green background. Vehicles with temporary registration will display alpha digits in red on a red background. In addition, dealers occupied vehicles will display alpha numerals in white with a red background. In this post, we will tell you about the complete color code scheme of number plates of Indian vehicles.
The new notification by MoRTH is to rectify discrepancies in the chapter on “work of registration mark on vehicles for various states and union territories at a glance”. This is done through the tabulation of objects, so that it clearly clears the ground behind the color of alpha numerals and the registration plate of different class and class of vehicles.
Color scheme of vehicle number plates in India
- The number plate of the private vehicle has a black letter on a white background.
- Commercial vehicles, such as taxis, buses and lorries, have black letters on a yellow background.
- Yellow lettering on a black background is used to denote a rental vehicle.
- White lettering on a light blue background indicates that the vehicle belongs to a foreign embassy or consulate.
- The number plates of battery powered vehicles, i.e. electric vehicles, have alpha digits in yellow with a green background.
- Vehicles with a temporary registration number must display a red background with a yellow background with alpha digits.
- Dealers will need to display alpha digits in white with a red background.
- The 8th form of the number plate is quite special and very special. It has the state emblem of India in gold on a red background. This number plate is for the Indian President or one of the governors of the federal state or union territory.
Apart from the standard registration number, India also offers vanity plates, although the available options are limited. The only bits customers can choose are the last four digits and a series of number plates. Only numbers that have never been used are on offer.
The importance of characters in Indian vehicle number plates
The first two letters of the Indian registration number are letters denoting the federal state or union territory, of which there are 36 in India. The next two indicate the regional transport authority within the state or territory that the registration number is issued. After that, the registration is one, two or three letters showing the current series of numbers. The last four digits are unique numbers for the plate.
The last feature of the number plate is the IND symbol on the left. Above it is the Ashoka Chakra (symbol depicted on the Indian flag), and below it is the lash pin code of the number plate. Some states and territories (such as National Capital Territory of Delhi) add an additional letter before the series to designate the vehicle type. Each state can use its own code for this purpose. For example, Delhi distinguishes between motorbikes, cars, electric vehicles, public transport vehicles, three-wheel rickshaws, taxis, pick-up trucks, and rental vehicles.
Safety of vehicle number plates in India (HSRP)
Since 2005, there is a law on new secure number plates in India, namely High Security Registration Plates (HSRP). However, implementation is very slow and is still to be completed in some federal states. The number plates of new vehicles have special safety features that enable them to be fitted and removed with only a special device. If these registration plates are tampered with, then these number plates become useless. In such cases, it would be impossible to fit different plates on the vehicle.
Another safety element for vehicles’ number plates is a registration mark – a hologram sticker affixed to the windscreen. This includes registration number, plate issuing transport authority number, engine number, body number and a laser pin code. The pin can be read with a special laser camera and with a sticker that is non-transferable and becomes unusable when removed. It aims to improve the safety of vehicles from theft and prevent criminals from using stolen number plates for their activities.
New notification for number plates of vehicles
The notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways states, “Earlier, the Ministry has set aside vehicles for different states and union territories under sub-section (6) of section 41 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59). – Different registration marks were set. Of 1988) SO444 (E), dated June 12, 1989. Later, the Ministry amended the SO444 (E) dated SO 827 (E) on November 11, 1992, to determine color on June 12, 1989. Alpha numerals and rear ground registration plate for different categories and categories of vehicles.
Further, the Ministry on GSR 901 (E) dated 13/12/2001 prescribed the color of the registration plate for the transport of vehicles and non-transport category. The Ministry came to the notice that the amendment of the chapter, “the work of registration mark on vehicles for different states and union territories at a glance” S.O. 444 (E), was abandoned on June 12, 1989. Due to which some ambiguities were observed. Therefore, this notification has been issued to enable clarity. “