On September 29, Minister of Roads Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari tweeted that from October 1, 2023, at least six airbags must be installed. He had earlier proposed the six-airbag rule on October 1, 2022.

“Considering the global supply chain constraints faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic situation, a decision has been made to implement the proposal to require at least six airbags in 2023,” he wrote. He also tweeted: “The safety of all passengers in motor vehicles, regardless of cost and variant, is a top priority.”

According to the Vahan portal, the M1 category is a motor vehicle used to transport passengers, including no more than eight seats, excluding the driver’s seat.

MORTH issued a draft notice on January 14, 2022, requiring M1 category vehicles produced after October 1, 2022, to be equipped with two side/side torso airbags, one for each front outboard seat occupants, and two side curtain/tubular airbags, one each for occupants in the outboard seats.