ABS to be a standard in all motorcycles from 2026

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has made it compulsory for all motorcycles to be manufactured with an Anti-lock Braking System or ABS from January 2026 onwards. This step was taken keeping the rising cases of road accidents and fatalities across India in mind.

As of now, only bikes with a displacement of 125 cc or above are required to have ABS as standard. Most bikes and scooters under 125 cc had a braking technology that combined front and rear braking to offer better stopping power. However, it is not as safe as ABS because it does nothing to prevent wheels from locking up during braking. Government data shows that the majority of these accidents were due to vehicle wheels locking up during panic braking, which led to severe injuries, including head trauma.

The authority has also made it compulsory for dealers to provide two BIS-certified helmets with the sale of their two-wheeler. Hence, by implementing ABS and helmet regulations, the Government believes such incidents can be reduced. While this is a very welcoming change within the biking community, it is needless to say that many are worried about the eventual price hike for two-wheelers. A price hike between INR 5,000-10,000 can be expected, even for budget-friendly commuter motorcycles.

Source: Hindustan Times, Bikewale News