16-Dec-2022: Notification issued to notify amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a notification G.S.R 879(E) on 14 Dec 2022 to notify amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark. MoRTH had introduced BH series registration mark vide G.S.R. 594(E) dated 26 August 2021. Over the course of implementation of these rules, several representations have been received towards strengthening the BH series ecosystem.

In an endeavour to further improve as well as widen the scope of BH series implementation, MoRTH has proposed new rules with the following key features:

1. The transfer of ownership of the vehicles with BH series registration mark to other persons, who are eligible or ineligible for BH series, has been facilitated.
2. Vehicles currently having regular registration mark can also be converted to BH series registration mark subject to payment of requisite tax, to facilitate persons who subsequently become eligible for BH series registration mark.
3. To provide further ease of life to citizen, amendment in rule 48 has been proposed to provide flexibility to submit application for BH series either at the place of residence or place of work.
4. The Working Certificate to be submitted by private sector employees has been further strengthened to prevent misuse.
5. In addition to their official identity card, Government employees can now obtain BH series registration mark on the basis of their Service Certificate also.

15-Dec-2022: Registration of Vehicles Under BH-Series

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in order to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles all over the country, has issued G.S.R. 594(E) dated 26th August, 2021 wherein a new registration mark namely "Bharat (BH) series" has been incorporated in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, This has come into force with effect from 15th September, 2021. It has been introduced for citizens working in Government offices or in private organizations with offices in four or more States/UTs, on voluntary basis. The implementation of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is under the purview of the State Governments/UT administration.

Applicants, working in Government offices, can avail BH Series facility on the basis of their official ID Card. Private Sector employees are required to submit a working certificate, certifying that their organization has offices in 4 or more States/UTs. Currently, only new vehicles are being registered under the BH Series. However, Ministry has issued a draft notification G.S.R. 672(E) on 04th October, 2022 to amend the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark, wherein vehicles having regular registration mark can also be converted to BH Series registration mark subject to payment of requisite tax for eligible citizens and to facilitate persons who subsequently become eligible for BH Series registration mark.

21-Jul-2022: BH Series Registration of Vehicles

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has implemented Bharat (BH) Series Registration vide GSR 594(E) dated 26.08.2021, with date of implementation as 15.09.2021. It has been implemented with the objective of promoting ease of transfer of vehicles owned by employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Public Sector Undertakings and Private Sector Companies having offices in 4 or more States. Station relocation occurs with both Government as well as private sector employees and such movements create a sense of unease in the minds of such employees with regard to obtaining the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the present State, assignment of new registration mark in the new State and application for refund of taxes from the previous State on transfer from one State to another State. One registration mark has been made valid throughout the country. Owner of the vehicle registered under BH series is required to pay vehicle taxes every two years or in multiples of it, to the state where it is located during that period, at 25% higher  than the uniform rate as notified. In order to facilitate seamless transfer of such vehicles, BH Series is helpful not only to citizens but also in reducing the burden of RTOs which deal with such vehicle transfers.

Following States/UTs have started BH Series registration: 

1. Andaman & Nicobar Island
2. Arunachal Pradesh       
3. Assam                   
4. Bihar                   
5. Chandigarh              
6. Delhi                   
7. Goa                     
8. Gujarat                 
9. Himachal Pradesh        
10. Jammu and Kashmir       
11. Karnataka               
12. Maharashtra             
13. Manipur                 
14. Meghalaya               
15. Mizoram                 
16. Nagaland                
17. Odisha                   
18. Puducherry              
19. Rajasthan               
20. Sikkim                  
21. Tripura                 
22. UT of DNH and DD        
23. Uttar Pradesh           
24. West Bengal             

The transport department of Kerala State Government has filed an affidavit in reply to the Writ Petition WP(C) No. 30887 of 2021 (received as part of the Writ Appeal No. 602 of 2022 filed as State of Kerala & others Vs Marysadaan Projects Pvt. Ltd. before the Honorable High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam and Writ Appeal No. 604 of 2022 filed as Secretary (Transport) State of Kerala & others Vs Sathyendra Kumar Jha & Anr. before the Honorable High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam) stating that if the State implements BH Series registration, it would result in a financial loss to the State exchequer as the owner can pay onetime tax of 15 years or of 2 years at his discretion. However, a detailed response has been submitted by MoRTH, to be filed, mentioning that the owner of the motor vehicle shall pay the motor vehicle tax for a period of two years, or in multiples of it, at 25% higher rate. The same is being remitted to respective States/UTs online. Hence, there is no financial loss to the State exchequer.  This enables the citizen to avoid the cumbersome process with regard to obtaining the NoC from the present State, assignment of new registration mark in the new State and application for refund of taxes from the previous State on transfer from one State to another State. This facility is available to employees of Central Government, State Government, PSUs, Public Sector Banks, Government autonomous bodies or organisations, and the private sector (who are employed in an organization with offices in four or more different States/UTs).

As on 15th July, 2022, the number of vehicles registered under the BH series in the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra are as follows:

The breakup of the BH Series vehicles in Karnataka and Maharashtra is as follows:

Note: The details given are for digitized vehicle records as per centralized Vahan 4 portal.

Any citizen working in Private Sector Companies having offices in 4 or more states can apply for BH Series registration mark.

28-Aug-2021: Government introduces a new registration mark for new vehicles  “Bharat series (BH-series)” to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles

Government has taken a host of citizen centric steps to facilitate mobility. An IT based solution for vehicle registration is one such effort. However, one of the pain points in the vehicle registration process that needed attention was re-registration of a vehicle while moving to another state.

Station relocation occurs with both Government and private sector employees.  Such movements create a sense of unease in the minds of such employees with regard to transfer of registration from the parent state to another state as, under section 47 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a person is allowed to keep the vehicle for not more than 12 months in any state other than the state where the vehicle is registered, but a new registration with the new state- registering authority has to be made within the stipulated time of 12 months.

A passenger vehicle user takes the following steps to re-register a vehicle:

1. No Objection Certificate from the Parent State for assignment of a new registration mark in another state.
2. Assignment of new registration mark after the road tax on prorata basis is paid in the new State
3. Application for refund of the road tax in the parent State on pro rata basis.

This provision to get refund from the parent State on pro rata basis is a very cumbersome process and varies from one State to another.

In order to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways vide notification dated 26 Aug 2021,  has introduced a new registration mark for new vehicles  i.e. “Bharat series (BH-series)”. A vehicle bearing this registration mark shall not require assignment of a new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one State to another.

Format of Bharat series (BH-series) Registration Mark -

Registration Mark Format: -

   YY BH #### XX

   YY – Year of first registration

   BH- Code for Bharat Series

   ####- 0000 to 9999 (randomized)

   XX- Alphabets (AA to ZZ)

This vehicle registration facility under “Bharat series (BH-series)” will be available on voluntary basis to Defense personnel, employees of Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector companies/organizations, which have their offices in four or more States/Union territories.

The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiple of two. This scheme will facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across States/UTs of India upon relocation to a new State/UT. After completion of the fourteenth year, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied annually which shall be half of the amount which was charged earlier for that vehicle.