Two Helmets Mandatory With Every Two-Wheeler Purchase: MoRTH

The Transport Ministry has made it compulsory for OEMs to provide BIS-certified helmets with every new bike or scooter purchase. This is aimed at reducing road injuries and promoting helmet usage in the country. This announcement comes a few months after Nitin Gadkari suggested the same earlier this year. Coupled with the fact that India witnessed 4,80,000 road accidents and 1,88,000 fatalities annually, as per the ministry — this move is seen as a much-need intervention. 

Rajeev Kapur, MD, Steelbird Helmets & President, Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India, applauded this decision. “At Steelbird, we have been supplying helmets to all major two-wheeler OEMs across India for over a decade, and we are fully aligned with this initiative. Many states have already begun enforcement, and OEMs are actively sourcing helmets from certified manufacturers like us. The Two-Wheeler Helmet Manufacturers Association of India fully supports this move, as it ensures both riders and pillion passengers are protected,” he stated. 

Kapur further predicted that approximately 4 crore BIS-certified helmets will reach Indian roads every year. As for the helmets that will be provided by the OEMs to its respective dealerships, they will mostly be from popular helmet brands such as Steelbird, Studds, Vega, etc. 22 of the 28 Indian states have already been initiated with the new mandate which “will drastically reduce the circulation of substandard or fake helmets, which were previously being distributed by some showroom owners,” added Kapur. 

Alongside mandating helmets for OEMs, the transport minister has also announced that every motorcycle and scooter sold in the country from January 1, 2026 must have an Anti-lock braking system (ABS) installed. Previously, it was mandated for all two-wheelers with engines above 125 cc displacement, now it even includes two-wheelers with smaller engines.