This Is The First State to Make Driving License Tests Tougher

Kerala has become the first state in India to overhaul its driving license process with tougher tests and stricter evaluation methods. Effective from October 1, 2025, the reforms expand the learner’s test, introduce hazard perception assessments, tighten practical driving checks, and bring in new compliance rules for driving schools. Officials say the changes are intended to improve road safety in a state that recorded over 44,000 accidents and 3,700 deaths in 2024.

Learner’s Test Now Harder to Pass

The learner’s license exam has been expanded from 20 to 30 questions. Candidates must now score at least 18 correct answers to clear the 60 percent pass mark. Each question must be answered within 30 seconds, compared to the earlier 15-second window.

Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar has proposed making the test even tougher by raising the requirement to 25 correct answers, which would set the pass threshold at 83 percent - among the highest anywhere in the world.

The test now includes negative marking, with 0.25 points deducted for wrong answers. A skip option lets candidates leave questions unanswered without penalty. To help with preparation, the Motor Vehicles Department has launched the MVD LEADS mobile app, offering syllabi, practice sets, and mock tests. Completing a mock test on the app earns candidates a road safety certificate that exempts them from classroom-based training.

Hazard Perception and Practical Reforms

A major new feature is simulation-based hazard perception testing. Candidates must react to on-screen obstacles in real time, with brake responses measured to fractions of a second. Ten scenarios are shown, covering village roads, construction zones, and narrow lanes with faded markings. Scoring is based on speed of response, and candidates need 30 out of 50 marks to pass. Even minor delays result in point deductions, highlighting the importance of alertness on the road.

Practical driving tests have also been reworked. Candidates must now show skills such as angular and parallel parking, gradient driving, and zig-zag manoeuvres. These are conducted on specially designed tracks that simulate real-world conditions. Success rates have fallen sharply since the reforms - from nearly universal passes earlier to just 40–52 percent today.

The most significant shift is the introduction of public road testing. Applicants are now evaluated in real traffic rather than closed tracks, addressing long-standing criticism that earlier assessments did not reflect actual driving competency.

Technology and Compliance Costs

The new system relies heavily on technology. Test vehicles are fitted with dashboard cameras and GPS devices that record candidate performance, ensuring assessments are objective and reducing the chance of bias. Recordings are stored for three months, allowing appeals and reviews if disputes arise.

Driving schools face new compliance rules, including bans on using cars more than 15 years old for tests. They must also install the required cameras and tracking equipment, which has raised costs. Many schools have protested, arguing that vehicle replacement and technology upgrades create financial strain. Some have challenged the rules in court, but petitions have so far been dismissed.

Longer Waits and Out-Of-State Licensing

The tougher regime has created delays. Applicants now wait up to four months for learner’s or driving tests because the Motor Vehicles Department has capped the number of tests each inspector can conduct daily. Officials say the limit ensures quality assessment but it has slowed processing.

Some applicants are sidestepping the problem by applying in Tamil Nadu, where license tests remain less stringent. This trend has prompted calls for more uniform national standards to prevent cross-border license shopping.

Despite pushback, officials say the reforms are meeting their goals. The drop in pass rates suggests tests are screening out underprepared drivers rather than simply processing large numbers. With hazard perception, real-world traffic tests, and technology-based evaluations now in place, Kerala is seen as setting a precedent for other states.