The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to remove the rule which requires a minimum education qualification for a driving license. This step has been taken in order to boost employment opportunities. As of now, Rule 8 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 requires a vehicle driver to have passed Class 8. In an official statement it was said: “In a move to benefit skilled persons from economically underprivileged sections of the society, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to remove the requirement of minimum educational qualification for driving a transport vehicle.”

It also said that the removal of the rule would help meet the shortage of nearly 22 lakh drivers in the transport and logistics sector. Also, it would provide an opportunity for unemployed individuals to establish a livelihood. The process to amend the rule has been initiated and a draft notification will be issued soon. The Haryana government in a meeting brought to attention the difficulty in obtaining a license faced by eligible unemployed youth who are skilled but have not completed Grade 8. They suggested that driving is more based on skill than educational competence.

The statement says that while the educational level will not be mandatory, the training and skill testing of drivers will be looked into seriously. A stringent skill test has to be passed compulsorily in order to obtain a driving licence. In addition, driving schools and establishments should ensure adequate training as prescribed under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. While on one hand, the amendment will help many get jobs, on the other hand, it raises the question of whether younger individuals will relinquish their education.