In a major push to enhance road safety, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced that all new two-wheelers—scooters and motorcycles—manufactured from January 2026 onward must come equipped with Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS), regardless of engine capacity.
Until now, the ABS requirement applied only to vehicles above 125cc, leaving a majority of entry-level models outside the safety net. The new rule aims to close this critical gap, as smaller two-wheelers make up a large chunk of the Indian market.
In addition to mandatory ABS, the government has also made it compulsory for dealerships to provide two BIS-certified helmets with every new two-wheeler sold—one for the rider and one for the pillion. This doubles down on the earlier regulation, which required only a single helmet.
The move follows concerning statistics: two-wheelers accounted for 44.5% of all road accidents in 2022, with many fatalities linked to head injuries from not wearing helmets. In FY26 alone, over 1.96 crore two-wheelers were sold, and more than 78% had engines of 125cc or less, highlighting the vast reach of the new mandate.
While prices for entry-level two-wheelers are expected to increase by at least ₹2,000, safety experts say it’s a small price for saving lives. ABS is known to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, giving riders better control and stability—especially on slippery roads. Studies show that ABS can reduce crash risk by 35% to 45%.
With these new measures, the government hopes to make India's roads safer and reduce the country’s high rate of two-wheeler-related fatalities.