India is set to take a major step forward in two-wheeler safety. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had recently proposed a change to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. This will make it mandatory for manufacturers to provide two BIS-certified helmets – one for the rider and one for the pillion – with every new two-wheeler sold in the country starting January 2026. The move aims to promote safer riding habits and reduce the number of road fatalities, especially among pillion riders, who often skip wearing helmets. As per the draft notification, dealerships will also be required to hand over both helmets at the time of vehicle delivery.For an industry long plagued by poor safety awareness and rampant use of fake helmets, this move could bring a much-needed change. According to Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director of Steelbird, this rule could spark a major boom in helmet demand. “If every new two-wheeler comes with two helmets, that alone will create a requirement of over 4 crore helmets annually,” he said during a media interaction.However, there’s a challenge. Kapur said that the actual production capacity for genuine ISI-certified helmets in India is just about 3 crore units a year. This leaves a significant gap.
The proposed rule is in line with the government’s broader push to reduce road fatalities. India reports over 1.5 lakh deaths annually due to road accidents, with two-wheeler riders making up a large chunk. Steelbird, one of the largest helmet manufacturers in India, is already investing heavily in automation and plant expansion, and plans to launch 75 new models over the next five years to cater to all segments, from budget to premium.But a key concern still remains: the widespread availability of fake helmets. These look like real helmets but don’t meet safety standards and offer no real protection. Kapur said that nearly half of the helmets on Indian roads are fake, and insists that any law mandating two helmets per vehicle must be backed with strong checks to ensure only genuine ISI-marked products are sold.“If this law is enforced well, it will not only protect more lives, but also help weed out counterfeit players from the market,” he added.
