The customers will be provided with two BIS-approved helmets on the purchase of every new two-wheeler from Jan 1, 2026 across the country
The Indian government has made it mandatory for two-wheeler dealers to provide two BIS-certified helmets on the purchase of a new vehicle from Jan 1, 2026. In addition, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) has been made a compulsory safety feature for every new two-wheeler sold from this year in the country. Henceforth, two-wheelers with all body types and engine sizes will come with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and two BIS-certified helmets as standard across the country, as per the order of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Earlier, ABS was only mandatory for two-wheelers with engine capacity above 125cc in India. Hence, most of the bikes and scooters with engine capacity below 125cc were equipped with Combi-brake System (CBS) which is not considered as advanced and safe as ABS. However, with the new rule coming into effect from Jan 1, now every two-wheeler irrespective of engine size will get ABS as standard safety feature.
As per the earlier rules, only one BIS-certified helmet was given to the customers on the purchase of a new two-wheeler by the dealership. However, in order to ensure pillion safety, the Union government has made it mandatory for company dealers to provide two BIS-certified helmets on the purchase of a new two-wheeler. The use of helmets for both pillion and rider is compulsory in most Indian cities.
It is a well known fact that India is the biggest two-wheeler market in the world and hence it accounts for most of the traffic deaths. Hence, the new rules have been enforced to reduce casualties and prevent head related injuries in case of a crash. The MoRTH officials claimed that this exercise is a part of long-term strategy to make Indian roads safer.
For those asking, BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards. The helmets approved by this body meet the strictest requirements for safety, durability and impact resistance. A BIS-certified helmet undergoes rigorous testing for hock absorption, shell strength and strap quality, unlike the most cheap and non-standard helmets in India.
Therefore, with this new rule, road safety will increase by many folds as both the rider and pillion will be required to wear reliable government-approved helmets. On the other hand, the inclusion of ABS as standard safety feature will help in preventing wheel lock on wet and slippery surfaces, and hence subsequently resulting in lesser accidents.
