- Why in news
- On 20 January 2026 the Road Transport Ministry said it had notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026. Pending toll dues will now block NOC, fitness renewal and National Permit.
- What it is
- The Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 are the subordinate rules framed under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. They govern registration, licensing, fitness, permits and related forms. The 2026 amendment ties recovery of unpaid National Highway user fee to these vehicle services.
- Unpaid user fee defined
- The rules define it as the fee for a National Highway section where the ETC system recorded the vehicle's passage but the fee was not received under the National Highways Act, 1956.
- NOC blocked
- An NOC for transfer of ownership or transfer of a vehicle to another State will not be granted until unpaid user fee is cleared.
- Fitness and permit
- A Certificate of Fitness cannot be renewed or generated with dues pending. Commercial vehicles seeking a National Permit must have no unpaid user fee.
- Form 28
- Form 28 now requires disclosure of any pending unpaid user fee demand. Relevant portions can be issued electronically through the designated online portal.
- Draft stage
- Draft rules were published in the Gazette on 11 July 2025 to invite suggestions from stakeholders and the public.
- MLFF link
- The rules will support fee collection once Multi-Lane Free Flow, barrier-less tolling, is implemented.
Don’t confuse with Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 vs CMV Rules, 1989: The Act is the parent law passed by Parliament. The Rules are subordinate legislation made by the Central Government under it.
Don’t confuse with National Highways Act, 1956 vs Fee Rules: The 1956 Act is the source of the user fee. The CMV amendment only links its non-payment to vehicle services.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Strengthens recovery of toll dues by linking them to services vehicle owners need.
- Prepares the ground for barrier-less tolling under MLFF.
Problems
- Wrongly recorded ETC or FASTag transactions could deny services to compliant owners.
- Needs reliable integration of toll data with state transport databases.
Way forward
- Provide a quick online grievance and dispute redressal system for disputed dues.
- Integrate toll records with the Vahan portal in real time.
Put in your answer
Draft consultation: Draft rules of 11 July 2025 were opened to public comment before final notification, an example of consultative rule-making.
Digital processes: Electronic issuance of parts of Form 28 through an online portal shows the push for digital governance.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: New rule linking toll dues to vehicle services; rules rarely tested (23 law Prelims questions overall), and few facts to turn on.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.