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The transport ministry has claimed that the move, to scrap minimum qualification criteria for drivers' license, will benefit skilled people in economically backward areas and help in creating more employment opportunities for the youth.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to remove the requirement of minimum educational qualification for driving a transport vehicle. Under Rule 8 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, a transport vehicle driver needs to have passed class 8.

"In a recent meeting in the transport ministry, the Haryana government had requested for waiver of the educational qualification condition for drivers from the economically backward Mewat region where the population is dependent for livelihood on low-income earning pursuits including driving," an official statement from the transport ministry said.

The ministry said the move will benefit skilled people from economically underprivileged sections of the society. The decision will also help meet the shortage of nearly 22 lakh drivers in the transport and logistics sector, which is hindering its growth.

However, while removing the requirement of minimum educational qualification, the ministry has strongly emphasized upon training and skill testing of drivers so that road safety is not compromised in any way.

"Anyone applying for a driving license will have to mandatorily pass a stringent skill test. The Ministry has emphasised that training imparted by a school or establishment as mentioned in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, should ensure that the driver can read signs and perform logistical duty such as maintenance of driver logs, inspection of trucks and trailers, submission of pre-trip and post-trip records, determination of discrepancies in paperwork, effective communication to report safety hazards," the ministry said.

The ministry had already proposed the removal of the requirement for educational qualification in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill that got passed by the previous Lok Sabha. The subject was also deliberated upon by the Standing Committee and Select committee of Parliament.

The transport ministry has initiated the process of amendment to the Rule 8 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989. The draft notification in this regard will be issued soon.