The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed a phased regulatory framework for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems, aimed at improving road safety through real-time information sharing between vehicles.
The Ministry has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to introduce requirements for V2V communication systems in vehicles belonging to categories L, M and N.
V2V technology enables nearby vehicles to exchange real-time information such as speed, position, direction and acceleration. The technology can alert drivers or vehicle systems to safety-critical situations, including sudden braking, forward-collision risks, unsafe lane changes and the approach of emergency vehicles.
According to the Ministry, V2V communication can provide information beyond the direct line of sight, unlike conventional vehicle-safety systems that largely rely on onboard sensors and driver response. The technology is therefore expected to complement Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and support proactive accident prevention and connected mobility.
Phased implementation
The proposed framework sets out a two-stage implementation schedule.
Vehicles in categories L, M and N manufactured on or after October 1, 2027, will be required to comply with the AIS-230 standard where they are fitted with V2V communication systems.
From October 1, 2028, vehicles in these categories manufactured in India will be required to be fitted with V2V communication systems conforming to AIS-230.
The Ministry said the phased approach would give vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders sufficient time to prepare for the new requirements.
5.875–5.925 GHz band allocated for V2V
The proposed V2V framework will use the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band, which has been identified for V2V and other Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications.
The Department of Telecommunications, through G.S.R. 466(E) dated June 10, 2026, has exempted the use of this frequency band from licensing requirements, clearing an important regulatory requirement for deployment of the technology.
AIS-230 sets technical requirements
The AIS-230 standard provides the technical foundation for the proposed V2V framework. It covers factory-installed On-Board Units based on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology operating in the 5.875–5.925 GHz band.
The standard specifies requirements relating to radio performance, frequency stability, transmission power, receiver sensitivity, GNSS-based positioning, electrical performance, electromagnetic compatibility and cybersecurity.
It also defines several road-safety applications, including Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving Alert and Emergency Vehicle Alert.
The move follows recommendations from a dedicated task force constituted by MoRTH, which had proposed the use of the 5.9 GHz ITS/V2X spectrum for road-safety applications. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules-Technical Standing Committee subsequently considered the formulation of AIS-230 at its 56th meeting held on May 7, 2026.
The Ministry said the proposed framework is expected to improve vehicle situational awareness, enable timely safety warnings and strengthen the use of connected technologies to reduce road-accident risks.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit their suggestions and comments on the draft rules within 30 days. The Ministry said the comments will be examined after the consultation period, following which the final notification will be issued.
