PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- Removal of educational qualification criteria for driving License
1 . Removal of educational qualification criteria for driving License
Context : Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to remove requirement of minimum educational qualification for transport vehicle drivers
Background
- 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.
About the Release
- In a move to benefit skilled persons from economically underprivileged sections of the society, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to remove the requirement of minimum educational qualification for driving a transport vehicle.
- There are large numbers of unemployed persons especially in rural areas of the country, who may not have a formal education, but are otherwise literate and skilled.
- Hence it was felt that driving being more a matter of skill than of educational competence, the condition of minimum educational qualification acts as a hindrance for the otherwise eligible unemployed youth.
Benefits
- The removal of this requirement will open up employment opportunities for a large number of unemployed persons, especially the youth in the country.
- The decision will also help meet the shortage of nearly 22 lakh drivers in the transport and logistics sector, which is hindering its growth.